Suicide Prevention Training and Professional Development for Teachers

One-Hour Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers and Educators

Program Title: Spotting Students at Risk: The Educator’s Role in Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm Behaviors (or The Emotionally Naked Truth About Suicide)

Time: 1 hour (can be 1.5 hours)

Virtual or In-Person Professional Development Topic for: Educators including teachers, school counselors, school nurses, principals, coaches, etc.

Learning outcomes:

• Cryptic and real-life signs of suicide in youth and what to say/do
• Examples of how other teachers have seamlessly built connection, mindfulness, and coping skills into their classroom culture
• Lesser-known transitions when students are more at risk
• Creating a suicide-safe environment (aka. means safety)

Two-Hour Mental Health Training for Teachers, University Faculty, and Educators

Program Title: Spotting Students at Risk: The Educator’s Role in Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm Behaviors

Time: 2 hours

Virtual or In-Person Professional Development Topic for: Educators including teachers, university faculty, school counselors, school nurses, principals, coaches, etc.

This presentation includes AnneMoss’s story plus practical steps on how to start tough conversations, what to say, what to do, how to listen, and be present when you don’t have all the answers. There will be lots of stories, comments from real students, professors, examples, case studies practice, and videos that you can share to start the conversation.

Learning outcomes:

• How substance misuse, mental health and other factors all create a constellation of risk factors
• Activities that can inspire conversation (Free quizzes, videos, conversation starters, and innovative ideas)
• Script practice on how a conversation might flow
• Empowering staff with what to say and how to support students and faculty after a suicide loss.
• Paying attention to your own mental health.
• How to protect against contagion and cohort suicide
• Turning grief into action to find a path to healing
• Mental health, prevention, intervention, postvention and resources

Feedback:

I now have new techniques to employ in my class. This breaks the barriers I had. I wanted to engage with my class but didn’t know how.”
–Professor, NCSU School of Engineering, From 2024 Faculty Training

I learned that it’s OK to not know exactly what to do; that it’s more important to stay present and explore a path forward together.”
–Academic Advisor, NCSU School of Engineering, From 2024 Faculty Training

Half-day Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Training for Educators

Time: 3.5-4 hours (half day) Training, Professional Development, or Preconference Workshop

Example event here at the Virginia School Safety Forum

Topic title: Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for Educators

Description: Participants will have the opportunity to learn through scenarios and discussions and strengthen their ability to gain insight, tools, and resources to work through one of the most difficult topics those working with students face–suicide.  This training includes scripts and role play, videos from educators and experts, real case studies, simple strategies, and time for Q&A throughout and will focus on three parts:

Part I – Prevention

• Signs to look for in young people ages 6-25. What to look for in artwork, on social media sites, and in papers kids write.
• A review of case studies of how teachers have integrated coping and critical thinking into their curriculum and how that helps kids build resilience and coping skills.
• Creating a suicide-safe environment

Part II – Intervention

• What to say, what to do, scripts, and role play on how to respond. (virtual presentation will have talk bubbles)
• Examples of protocols in school settings.
• Scripts for effectively and supportively addressing conversations and situations with students in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. (Customized based on the audience and age group.)

Part III- Postvention

• The top errors most administrators make after a school suicide can put other vulnerable students at risk.
• How to support staff and students in their grief after the suicide of a teacher or student.
• What to do and say to the parent of a deceased child and a protocol to follow.
• What educators can say to students who accuse teachers of holding back or lying when the parent has asked that the cause of death not be disclosed?
• How to prevent contagion and cohort suicide.
• Memorial guidelines and creating a commemoration policy.

Feedback from Educators at Suicide Prevention Training for Educators Workshops:

• “Heartfelt presentation – it will help me to empathize more with troubled kids in schools.”
• “She speaks from personal experience from the heart. I liked the script practice and scenarios especially. Really good advice for figuring out what to say and how to say it. And also understanding the importance of listening!!!”
• “When a presenter has the personal experience, as this presenter, it adds an element of authenticity and compassion to what they are conveying.”
• “The session is a must in today’s young adult and teens involvement.”
• “Your attention and compassion on this subject was captivating, thank you!”
• “An excellent dive into this uncomfortable topic”
• “Excellent training; I learned additional information; the training reinforced my skill sets; and provided me with much more detailed information on how to handle these types of incidents.”
• “I’ve often worried about the most effective verbiage for children in families in this raw situation. The examples on to say and how to bridge that gap of understanding between me and families to the student was invaluable.”