Suicide prevention programs tend to focus on either awareness or skills training. Both are important and can contribute to a community's suicide safety. Awareness programs, like LivingWorks SafeTALK, can serve a number of purposes. These presentations are for people interested in learning more about suicide and what can be done to help those at risk. They are designed to stimulate or build on concern about suicide. They often provide basic information about signs of suicide risk along with initial helping steps. Some address the needs of those bereaved by suicide. Sometimes, they discuss broader issues about building more supportive suicide-aware networks in communities, schools, and workplaces. Awareness programs usually provide basic information but do not offer opportunities to develop suicide intervention skills. Some find that attending an awareness presentation is sufficient for their needs and interest, while others choose to become more involved and recognize that they will need more skills to do this effectively. Awareness presentations are shorter and aimed at the large number of persons who are sensitized to the problem of suicide. The goal is that members of the audience will identify ways to help, supporting suicide prevention and life-assisting programs in their communities while becoming more willing to refer persons at risk to helpers with intervention skills. Most awareness program audiences will recognize that there is more to learn before they feel willing, ready, and able to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Crisis intervention skills training programs, like LivingWorks' ASIST, equip people to identify and respond to someone at immediate risk of suicide. Just as CPR skills make physical first aid possible, training in suicide intervention develops the skills to offer knowledgeable, competent suicide first aid. These programs also typically explore options for linking people with resources for ongoing help. They should also address caregiver attitudes towards suicide since these personal elements can affect the willingness and effectiveness of an intervention. Skills training programs are longer and are often aimed at people in positions of trust. Depending on the community or organization, these might include chaplains, counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, teachers, and wellness manager, among many others. They are often the ones others turn to in times of difficulty, and in intervention skills programs, they are typically called caregivers or gatekeepers. Intervention training programs are skills-based and provide a solid foundation for intervention and follow-up with someone at risk. Those participating in a suicide intervention skills workshop should leave feeling willing, ready, and able to intervene and prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Intervention skills training participants often feel more empowered to take a leadership role in suicide prevention and life-assisting programs in their communities.
In the end, both awareness and intervention skills are essential. Every community needs people who support suicide prevention as well as caregivers who are prepared to intervene. LivingWorks offers a variety of programs in each category. Together, they can contribute to a robust suicide prevention framework for any community.
