Suicide assessment, intervention and prevention training

Understanding and dealing with the risk of suicide
Family, friends, and health care professionals should always be concerned and compassionate when the possibility of suicide is raised. Suicide can be the result of untreated depression, traumatic experiences, health problems, an injury, or a subtle buildup of events that are stressful or tragic. Suicidal feelings, thoughts and behavior are almost always associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety or the result of medical problems involving a chemical imbalance. Understanding more about suicidal thoughts, feelings and behavior is the first step in knowing how to respond in a good way. This program is designed to develop a team of suicide prevention workers for your community.
In February 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples released its special report on suicide. Over several years, in 172 days of public hearings in 92 communities across Canada, the Commissioners heard that suicide was one of the most urgent problems facing aboriginal communities. In addition, the Commission in 1993 had held two special consultations on suicide prevention in which national organizations represented aboriginal people. Included were the Assembly of First Nations, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Native Council of Canada (now the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples), the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Pauktuutit (Inuit Women's Association), and the Métis National Council.

The magnitude of the problem
Although the true rate of suicide was considered to be higher than existing data suggested, the Commission estimated that suicide rates across all age groups of aboriginal people were on average about three times higher than in the non-aboriginal population. The suicide rate was placed at 3.3 times the national average for registered Indians and 3.9 times for Inuit.
Adolescents and young adults were at highest risk. Among aboriginal youth aged 10 to 19 years, the suicide rate was five to six times higher than among their non-aboriginal peers; however, it is in the years between 20 and 29 that both aboriginal and non-aboriginal people showed the highest rates of suicide.

Who is most at risk
It is estimated that at least 55 percent of the Aboriginal people who committed suicide during the most recent five-year study completed were living on reserve, implying a much higher suicide rate for on-reserve Aboriginals than those living off reserve.

Suicide Assessment, Intervention and Prevention Training Package consists of:

Counselor wellness:
In this component, participants will learn the importance of maintaining their own personal and professional wellness by learning to balance themselves spiritually, mentally, socially and, physically. Including, burnout prevention, stress management, self-exploration and, evaluation of personal wellness and wellness planning, including the creation of personal and professional support networks. This component also includes a look at Native history from a First Nations perspective and explores the predominant historical factors that play a significant role in substance abuse and suicide attempts and completions.

Suicide assessment, intervention and prevention skills
This component will assist participants in the development of assessment, intervention and prevention skills, including risk factors when a client identifies thoughts or behaviors about suicide or homicide. Discussions and case histories that include high levels of hands on group exercises in suicide ideation, experiential lessons provide the proper response procedures including legal and ethical responsibilities. Participants will learn: The myths about suicide, understanding suicide, statistical information, suicide rates among Native youth, patterns of suicide, why suicides are happening, assessing risks with adolescents, assessing risks with teens, assessing risks with adults, signs and symptoms of suicidal behaviors, methods of obtaining information, how to properly intervene, intervention strategies, how to prevent suicides, obtaining anti-suicide agreements, legal and ethical responsibilities, case management of the suicidal client. This extensive training will prepare participants with first hand experience to effectively and properly respond to suicidal clients and prevent the suicide from taking place.

Crisis intervention
The purpose of this component is to assist participants in developing an adequate understanding of crisis intervention and responses to specific issues of victimization as it relates to domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, child abuse and neglect. This component will give participants the opportunity to discuss community issues and develop effective strategies for prevention of suicides related to victimization issues. This component also focuses on setting up a crisis intervention and community wellness team for the community.

Introduction to trauma counseling
This component is a brief introduction designed to help participants gain a better understanding of the trauma and loss issues that are instrumental in fueling alcohol and drug abuse and the related suicide attempts and completions, including the importance of healthy grieving and releasing the built up tensions related to trauma and loss. People experience a wide variety of losses throughout their life, and it is only through proper grieving processes that they can realize any significant healing in their life. Unresolved grief is carried forever, and it is this unresolved grief that has been so instrumental in keeping people blocked in their emotional, mental, and spiritual growth.

All participants completing this training program will receive an attestation of completion certificate from The Young Warriors Network upon satisfactory attendance and involvement in this specialized training program.

Call or email us for complete details and how to bring this program to your community.