Learners' Own Words

We all have a role to play in the prevention of suicide. Research has shown that there is not any one single factor that leads to suicide. So, implementing one strategy or approach is not enough. Addressing the complex issue of suicide requires the use of a comprehensive approach. To better protect our young people, we have to expand our understanding of a range of prevention strategies. And consider the important role a postvention strategy plays in both healing and reducing future suicide risk.

You will be better equipped to help when you understand how a Pathway to Care strategy is used as part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. You’ll gain insight about a strategy of suicide postvention response. It’s critical for everyone to help suicide loss survivors cope with a death and grieve because taking the right action can prevent future suicides.

This training will help frontline youth workers know what they can do within a framework of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. You’ll explore suicide as a public health problem that can be addressed with the core principles of postvention to promote both healing and prevention. And you’ll gain resources to be more confident in partnering and referring to fully support young people in all respects.

• Identify three components of suicide prevention
• Examine nine key strategies that form a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention
• Define the referral Pathway to Care and explore how it is used to identify and connect people to support
• Define suicide postvention and its importance
• Describe the goals and phases of a postvention response

Each of YIPA’s trainings are designed around a broad framework of eight youth work competencies. The competency focus of this training is: MENTAL HEALTH BASICS.

Build your understanding of prevalent mental health issues among youth today, learn how to connect youth with appropriate mental health resources, and practice good self-care strategies.