LivingWorks safeTALK

LivingWorks

Program Type

Education or Training Program

Cost

$500 or less

Evidence Type

Empirically-Defined Evidence

SPRC Comprehensive Approach

Identify and Assist, Increase Help-Seeking, Effective Care/Treatment, Care Transition/Linkages, Respond to Crisis, Connectedness

Program or Intervention Summary

A 4-hour in-person course for all in the community to becoming suicide alert. Using four basic ‘TALK’ steps – Tell, Ask, Listen and Keepsafe participants gain confidence to be “nosy” and approach a person that could be thinking about suicide. The focus is to connect with a person with thoughts of suicide and to keep the person safe while connecting them to a resource capable of ensuring safety over time such as a family member, an ASIST trained person or a mental health professional. LivingWorks safeTALK is for anyone aged 15 years + who wants to promote suicide safety, regardless of previous experience or background.

FOCUS: Suicide alertness training for the community

DURATION: 3 hours–4 hours (half a day)

LANGUAGES: English and Frenchn

PARTICIPANTS: Anyone 15 or older

TRAINERS: One trainer and one community resource person per 15–30 participants

Goals and objectives

safeTALK helps participants become alert to suicide. Suicide-alert people are better prepared to connect persons with thoughts of suicide with life-affirming help. Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:

Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts may be present

  • Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked
  • Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide
  • Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe
  • Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further suicide-safer help

Training process

safeTALK features both presentations and interactive elements. Trainers will facilitate participants’ involvement through:

  • Trainer presentations
  • Diverse selection of audiovisuals
  • Interactive discussion and questions
  • TALK steps practice
  • TALK wallet card
  • “You can TALK to Me” stickers
Type Education or Training Program
Setting Community, Correctional Facility, Healthcare Facility, Inpatient mental health facility, Residential facility, PK-12 School, Tribal communities, United States Territory
People Religious or Faith-Based Groups, LGBTQ+, People Who Live in Urban Areas, People Who Live in Rural Areas, People Who Live in Suburban Areas, First Responders (Fire/Law/EMS), Mental Health Professionals, Physical Health Problems/Disabilities, People in Particular Occupations
Languages English, French
Study Method Quantitative Design, Qualitative Design
Implementer Requirement Adults, Teens, Community Laypeople, 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

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