The WMU Suicide Prevention Program believes that suicide can be prevented if students receive the caring support they need to navigate stressful college experiences and receive treatment for any mental health concern.
What does the online workshop offer?
The online workshop is an interactive program designed to be a basic introduction to suicide prevention. Participants learn how to recognize suicidal behavior, how to respond appropriately to potentially suicidal individuals, and where to find help. The training does not teach you how to do an in-depth clinical assessment of a suicidal individual. Professional mental health support for you and the person contemplating suicide is available through Counseling Service.
What is in it for you?
By the end of the online workshop, you will benefit both personally and professionally through: increased general knowledge about suicide, an increased ability to respond to a person who may be at risk for suicide with specific, basic suicide intervention skills, and increased personal confidence. You will also learn about resources available in the community and in communities in which Western Michigan University Extended University Programs are housed.
Who should participate?
All Western Michigan University faculty and staff are encouraged and welcomed to participate.
The WMU Suicide Prevention Program believes that suicide can be prevented if students receive the caring support they need to navigate stressful college experiences and receive treatment for any mental health concern. Through our experience providing in-person and classroom workshops students have shared their personal experience of suicide touching their lives. Many students have shared that having the information provided in our workshop would have been helpful to prevent someone they know from attempting or completing suicide.
What does the workshop offer?
The workshop is an interactive program designed to be a basic introduction to suicide prevention. Participants learn how to recognize suicidal behavior, how to respond appropriately to potentially suicidal individuals, and where to find help. The training does not teach you how to do an in-depth clinical assessment of a suicidal individual. Professional mental health support for you and the person contemplating suicide is available through Counseling Services.
There are two different programs offered:
Option #1: The most complete workshop is a 2-hour program that is didactic and also offers basic skills training. Participants will receive a certificate of completion that will look great on any resume.
Option #2: A brief educational workshop: This program briefly presents information about suicide without skills basic training and may be flexible time-wise to fit into your course needs.
What is in it for you?
By the end of the training, you will benefit both personally and professionally through: increased general knowledge about suicide, an increased ability to respond to a person who may be at risk for suicide with specific, basic suicide intervention skills, and increased personal confidence.
Additionally, students pursuing careers in helping professions will benefit from the training and be able to include the training on a resume.
Who should participate?
Any interested Western student, faculty and staff is encouraged and welcomed to participate. Student groups may schedule a group workshop.
How to schedule a workshop or for more information:
Contact Kathy at (269) 387-1850, e-mail Kathy.lewis@wmich.edu or the Suicide Prevention Program at (269) 387-1887, email suicidepreventionprogram@wmich.edu