If you could save a life, would you? Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 14 and 25 and 34; and is the third leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. Across all age groups, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death.
Such statistics, however grim, shine a light on the need for more suicide prevention training in this country. After all, no one is immune from the possibility that someone they care about might take their own life. When life circumstances and mental health symptoms become unbearable, it is not uncommon for people to have thoughts of suicide. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted it, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Because anyone can be impacted by suicide, anyone can benefit from learning the basics of suicide prevention. The good news is that you don’t have to take a long, expensive course to get up to speed on warning signs to look for and how to intervene and possibly save a life. As a start, consider the following training, which are either free or very affordable….
Zero Suicide Alliance
Zero Suicide Alliance offers a 20-minute version of its longer “gateway training.” The more abbreviated training is “recommended for anyone aged 16 and over.”
Many people feel unsure about how to have a conversation with someone they suspect is suicidal. A common worry, for example, is that just talking about suicide may encourage it. This training teaches participants how to have a “life-saving conversation.” Trainees also get tips about suicide warning signs to watch for and where to go for further professional help. (Remember that many people have overcome severe and suicidal depression with the help of therapy and medication. Learn about these therapies that relieve suicidal thoughts, for instance.)
QPR Institute
For a slightly more intensive course, QPR Institute offers a 1.5-hour training via Zoom that is accessible on its site for the reasonable price of $30. (The National Alliance on Mental Illness, which has active chapters across the country, offers the very same course for free. You can Google NAMI chapters in your area to find out if they are providing the training.)
“QPR” stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer,” the three steps to preventing suicide in a mental health emergency. QPR claims to be the most widely used training program in the U.S. for members of the community over the age of 16 who are seeking “best practices” in suicide prevention.
Living Works START
At the price of $39, Living Works START is another affordable option. (Depending on where you live, you may be able to access a free version of the course by visiting your state’s public health department.) The online training is 90 minutes in length. It “teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.”
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid has developed a course for the public that it describes as “CPR”—only in this case, the emergency is not a heart attack but rather a mental health or substance use crisis. Trainees learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns; are acquainted with strategies for assisting in both crisis and non-crisis situations; and get connected with referrals and other resources that can help.
State Suicide Prevention Training Programs
It may also be worth exploring what free online training resources are available through your state. For example, if you are a resident of Missouri, you are eligible for Missouri’s free 20-minute course. It addresses the basics of suicide prevention: first, how to identify those at risk, as well as “the risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicide;” next, how to respond to and get help for those at risk. Other states may offer similar training programs.
Every 11 minutes, someone ends their own life. Experts say the tragedy is preventable. It starts with more people like you having the tools they need to administer life-saving help.
