Suicide prevention training offered to community for free

Special to Foster's
·2 min read
Suicide prevention trainers have been trained to deliver the NAMI NH Connect Suicide Prevention training, considered a National Best Practice and the gold standard for suicide prevention trainings.
Suicide prevention trainers have been trained to deliver the NAMI NH Connect Suicide Prevention training, considered a National Best Practice and the gold standard for suicide prevention trainings.

DOVER — The Dover Mental Health Alliance, in partnership with the Dover School District, is offering free suicide prevention trainings, monthly, at Dover High School. The suicide prevention trainers have been trained to deliver the NAMI NH Connect Suicide Prevention training, considered a National Best Practice and the gold standard for suicide prevention trainings.

The trainings are offered to anyone, ages 18 and above, who would like to learn more about the risk factors and warning signs for someone experiencing suicidal ideation. The curriculum dives into how anyone can play a role in helping to save a life from suicide when equipped with the knowledge of what to say to someone in distress and the resources available in our communities.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in New Hampshire in people 10-34 years of age. (CDC WISQARS 2016-2020). When an entire community is trained to recognize and respond to risk, we can indeed save the lives of youth and young adults.

DMHA Co-founder Suzanne Weete said, “I am not a therapist, but I have learned that with a little bit of knowledge, I feel I can recognize when someone may be experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, and at least identify warning signs that may indicate a dangerous situation. I am grateful to NAMI NH for developing this curriculum and the opportunity to become trained to impart this information to anyone who wants to be part of the suicide prevention solution.”

Free NAMI NH trainings are held on the first Thursday of the month (with the exception of November, which will be Nov. 10) from 5 to 8 p.m. in the library at Dover High School. Trainers include community members, first responders, teachers and administrators, prevention coordinators, and case managers. The training is appropriate for anyone in the community who would like to know more about the risk factors and warning signs of someone having suicidal thoughts. Coaches, teachers, faith leaders, business people, first responders, parents and young adults are ideal participants for this class.

Registration is open by going to dovermentalhealthalliance.org/events. Classes are held with a minimum of 10 participants. Members from any community are encouraged to attend.

The Dover Mental Health Alliance (DMHA) is part of Community Partners, Strafford County’s non-profit, local community mental health center. For more information about Community Partners go to www.communitypartnersnh.org. For more information about the Dover Mental Health Alliance and upcoming trainings, visit www.dovermentalhealthalliance.org or email Suzanne Weete at suzanneweete@communitypartnersnh.org.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Suicide prevention training offered to community for free