Workshop on Youth Suicide Prevention:
A Community Approach
This interactive one or two day workshop provides an opportunity for community and school representatives to gain knowledge and skill in planning a community approach to youth suicide prevention. Individuals with accurate information can be better prepared to identify youth at risk for suicide, demonstrate caring behavior, and refer or link youth to appropriate resources.
Details
During the workshop, a number of resources and tools are shared that aim to enhance participants’ understanding and maximize their community’s assets to better deal with suicidal behaviors in children and youth. The workshop suggests frameworks to use for a community suicide prevention effort, all based on the public health approach and System of Care values and principles. Participants explore the issues involved with planning, implementing and evaluating programs. In addition, they are introduced to specific issues such as cultural and linguistic competence, meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and community and state partnerships.
Workshop Goals
- Gain knowledge and skill in planning a community approach to youth suicide prevention.
- Enhance their understanding of a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention framework and resources.
- Work as team or individually to assess community readiness and develop strategies for a community approach to youth suicide prevention.
- Understand how a public health model can be used for community suicide prevention activities.
Presenters
Katherine J. Lazear and Stephen Roggenbaum, authors of the Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide, developed the 2-day intensive workshop. Both Lazear and Roggenbaum have consulted with and provided technical assistance to numerous states and local communities on suicide prevention, as well as having presented at and facilitated many conferences, meetings and trainings.
