
Preventing Access to Methods of Suicide
Facts to Know About Suicide: Suicide is the leading cause of violent death in Wisconsin. Firearms are the most common method used in suicide, followed by hanging and poisoning. A
NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER ALONE
Safe Communities offers a free training where participants learn the warning signs for suicide, risk and protective factors, theories that drive suicidal behavior, how to offer hope, and how to seek help to save a life.
Suicide Prevention research recognizes that even socially isolated individuals usually have some sort of contact within their community (e.g. family, doctors, teachers, employer, banker, counselor, etc.) This training teaches diverse groups within each community how to recognize the crisis of suicide and how to act.
Send us an e-mail for more information: info@safercommunites.org
Safe Communities is not a counseling or crisis center and does not provide direct services. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
RECOVERY COACHING
A gatekeeper is someone trained to recognize a suicide crisis and, because of their training, knows how and where to find help.
Suicide Prevention gatekeeper training takes one and a half hours and is taught in a format that is clear, concise, and applicable for a wide variety of audiences. Gatekeepers are given information that is easy to understand, and reinforced by a wallet card complete with things to say or not to say, and a list of resources available in your community.
Speaking to someone about suicide offers the increased possibility of intervention early in the depressive and/or suicidal crisis (when the level of suicide may be less).
This training encourages the gatekeeper to take the individual directly to a treatment provider and/or community resource.
This training stresses active follow-up on each intervention that occurs. The individual trained often plays a preexisting role in the at-risk person’s life. This increases the sense of continuity, support likelihood of a positive resolution and increases a sense of connection and belonging.
From the National Institute of Mental Health
The behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
“Are you thinking of killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does NOT increase suicides and or suicidal thoughts.
Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means makes a difference.
Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may in fact reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
Save the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number in your phone so it’s there when you need it: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.
Download PDF regarding the NIMH’s Five Action Steps and Share
Patient Safety Plan Template Adopted from the ©2008 Barbara Stanley and Gregory K. Brown
DANE COUNTY CRISIS NUMBERS
Journey Mental Health 24/7 Crisis Line
(608) 280-2600
www.journeymhc.org/emergency-services/
Solstice House Warmline
(608) 244-5077
www.soarcms.org/programs/solstice-house
2-1-1 United Way Dane County
(608) 246-HELP (4357)
www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/get-help/2-1-1/
NAMI Dane County
(608) 249-7188
www.namidanecounty.org/
Hopeline Text Line – Text “HOPELINE” to 741741
HOPELINE is the Emotional Support Text Line in the State of Wisconsin and provides service throughout the entire state. HOPELINE’s purpose is to offer emotional support and resources before situations rise to crisis level.
Safe Communities is not a counseling or crisis center and does not provide direct services. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Talking about suicide helps prevent it. We’ll help you get the conversation started.
The story of Kevin Berthia, a Suicide Survivor, and Sergeant Kevin Briggs, Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge is a powerful story about mental health, suicide and the importance of human connection. Here are some free online videos regarding their story to introduce the topic of suicide and suicide prevention to your group. Suicide is a difficult topic, but discussing it helps us to see the reality of what life is like for those living with mental illness and teaches us how to connect with one another on a deeper level and prevent suicide.
TRAINING CLASSES
All classes are virtual for the foreseeable future.
They occur every first Thursday of the month at 1pm.
Safe Communities is not a counseling or crisis center and does not provide direct services. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
RESOURCES
Facts to Know About Suicide: Suicide is the leading cause of violent death in Wisconsin. Firearms are the most common method used in suicide, followed by hanging and poisoning. A
What are Depression and Depressive illnesses? Depression and depressive illnesses occur when chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, become unbalanced or disrupted. A person who has depression does not
Grief is as old as mankind but is one of the most neglected of human problems. As we become aware of this neglect, we come to realize the enormous cost
RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE
Safe communities has complied a list of abbreviation definitions for finding the right treatment for you.
MAT: Medication for Addiction Treatment.
OP: Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends. individual and group therapy, these can include or not include MAT.
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends individual and extended groups, 9-12 hours a week.
Residential: person lives at the facility for a period of at least 14 days, some last as many as 45 days.
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program is a structured mental health treatment program that runs for several hours each day, three to five days per week.
DBT: Dialectical behavior therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that integrates mindfulness techniques.