FirstLink plans virtual, in-person suicide prevention trainings

Jennifer Illich and Francesca Huelsman of FirstLink, a support hotline based in Fargo that covers North Dakota and parts of Minnesota, take calls from people who may need resources for financial, mental and emotional health.

By News staff

January 11, 2022 at 4:00 PM

FARGO — Mental health hotline FirstLink is scheduled to offer a combination of in-person and online training sessions in the coming days and weeks that aim at suicide prevention.

One workshop is set to run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 and 27 in Fargo.

The event is an in-person event, though group size is being limited to allow for social distancing.

The workshop, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, is designed to help participants:

Dispel myths about suicide.
Identify people who may be having thoughts of suicide.
Reduce barriers which hinder the ability to be direct and comfortable with suicidal situations.
Conduct an assessment and develop a safety plan.
Engage in building resource networks for individuals at risk.

The cost to attend the workshop is $200 per person.
To learn about the workshop or to register, go to firstlink.regfox.com/asist-0122. Participants must attend both days.

A live, one-hour webinar addressing suicide risk assessment is set for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The training is designed to improve knowledge about suicide risk factors and assessing for acute suicide risk using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

Those who attend will be taught the screening tool, options for addressing suicide risk such as collaborative safety planning, and resources for those at risk of suicide.

The training is offered for free thanks to support from Re-think Mental Health.

To learn more or to register, go to register.gotowebinar.com/register/6570823743195206924.

A Living Works Start self-paced online program is also available.

In 90 minutes, Living Works Start teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.

The training is offered by FirstLink and NDSU Extension and supported by the ND Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center Grant.

To learn more or to register, go to myfirstlink.org/event/livingworks-start/.

For more information about FirstLink and its resources and programs, visit www.myfirstlink.org.

FirstLink plans virtual, in-person suicide prevention trainings

In-person event will be Jan. 26-27, with online training options available for different dates.