Home Suicide Prevention Resource Center SPRC

Connect Suicide Postvention Program

NAMI NH

Website: https://www.theconnectprogram.org

Program Type

Education or Training Program, Information or Outreach Program, Environment or Systems Program

Cost

$1,001 to $2,500

Evidence Type

Community-Defined Evidence, Empirically-Defined Evidence

SPRC Comprehensive Approach

Identify and Assist, Increase Help-Seeking, Respond to Crisis, Postvention, Reduce Access to Means, Connectedness

Program or Intervention Summary

Developed and copyrighted by NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the Connect Suicide Postvention program is a comprehensive public health program based on a social- ecological model to help communities, organizations and schools prepare to respond to a suicide or other sudden traumatic loss to reduce risk and promote healing. This application focuses on Connect Suicide Postvention program in community settings across sectors who may be involved in responding after a suicide death. Connect Suicide Postvention increases the capacity of professionals and communities proactively address the impact of a suicide through training, protocols, training of trainers, and strategic planning. Connect uses a public health approach and incorporates evidence based practices and key elements of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Connect promotes inter and intra-agency change in the immediate and long term which sets it apart from other models. Connect’s curriculum teaches stakeholders how to understand the short and long range impact and dynamics of a suicide death. Building on that foundation, Connect focuses on the community as a whole and how to work across systems to build a proactive, integrated and trauma informed approach in the aftermath of a suicide. The program includes an option to develop a strategic suicide postvention plan. The plan is developed in the context of best practices, the community’s resources and local culture to ensure successful implementation. There is also an option to implement a Connect Suicide Postvention Training of Trainers to build capacity and breadth of knowledge about evidence based practices, leading to sustainability of suicide postvention efforts in communities. More than “just training,” Connect fosters relationship building and the exchange of resources among participants. Prior to the training, Connect staff work with the host agency and local leaders to understand cultural norms and protective and risk factors unique to the community. Connect has developed postvention protocols and utilizes these as part of the program implementation for educators, faith leaders, law enforcement, mental health and substance use disorder providers, media representatives, funeral directors, coroners and social service agencies. Connect Postvention training includes activities, interactive case scenarios, facilitated discussion, PowerPoint, protocols, voices of survivors and resource materials for dissemination.

Type Education or Training Program, Information or Outreach Program, Environment or Systems Program
Setting Online, Home, Community, Healthcare Facility, Inpatient mental health facility, PK-12 School, Social Services or Public Health, Tribal communities, United States Territory, Other
People Religious or Faith-Based Groups, People Who Live in Urban Areas, People Who Live in Rural Areas, People Who Live in Suburban Areas, People who live in Tribal communities, People Who Live in US Territories, First Responders (Fire/Law/EMS), Medical Professionals, Mental Health Professionals, People in Particular Occupations
Languages English, American Indian/Alaska Native Language
Study Method Quantitative Design
Implementer Requirement Adults, Peer Consultants, Traditional/Natural helper, Community Laypeople, Family Mentors, K-12 school faculty and staff, Professional Educators, Higher Ed or Post-Secondary Programs, Faith and spiritual community leaders, Veterans and those who work with veterans, Law Enforcement and First Responders, Mental health treatment providers
Training Requirement Yes
Delivery Options In-Person, Virtual self-paced, Hybrid, Other
Risk and Protective Factors Previous suicide attempt, Historical trauma, Easy access to lethal means of suicide among people at risk, Effective coping and problem-solving skills, Strong sense of cultural identity

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