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On January 9 from 5:30 to 7 pm, our colleague Madeline Zielinski (with Brittney Lee, MSW) will lead an important interactive discussion/training on suicide prevention at KVML, 543 Indiana Avenue. Madeline and other mental health professionals from the Indy area led similar programs for us in 2018 as part of our Lonesome No More series, and because these topics are so important in this challenging world, we’ll present several others throughout the year. Maddie explains more about the training here:
Why is a program like this important, especially this time of year?
Suicide is a very real issue, but many are hesitant to talk about it for fear of saying the wrong thing. Indiana has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, and the cold, gray winters here can cause this number to climb even higher.
What will the program focus on?
This program will bring an interactive experience to understanding suicide prevention. We will learn how to recognize the signs that someone is thinking about suicide, practice asking, and learn how to connect that person to support. We also will discuss resources and what protective factors we can build around ourselves and others in our community to prevent suicide.
Who should attend this program?
This training is open to any age or experience level. No need to be intimidated. You aren’t expected to be an expert. You will learn how to recognize those who need help so you can connect them with professionals and resources.
What are the three most important reasons this program can be helpful?
- Talking about suicide is the best way to prevent it. Isolation is a major factor in someone moving from suicide ideation to an attempt.
- Talking about suicide is also very intimidating. This is a safe place to practice and ask questions before taking it on in the real world.
- Finally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death in the state among people ages 15 to 34 (Suicide in Indiana Report, 2017). It is the only cause of death rate that is rising.
What do people misunderstand when it comes to talking about suicide prevention?
Some people think talking about suicide will make someone consider it. This is no more true than if someone tried to convince you to jump off a cliff. The suggestion is not going to make someone follow through with it.
Register for this event here.
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