Training videos for the Self-Directed Violence Classification System

This series of six training videos, each 5-8 minutes, for providers and clinicians discusses the Self-Directed Violence Classification System which incorporates all behaviors and ideation on the self-harm spectrum including NSSI. Vignettes are shown with clinician interacting with a patient and later being coached to identify the correct classification.  

Engagement informed by lived experiences

In this three-minute video, Leah Harris, Director of Communications & Development at the National Empowerment Center, shares her thoughts about the importance of involving people with lived experiences in leadership roles to improve screening, assessment, and patient engagement.

Walking Softly to Heal: The Importance of Community Readiness

These resources provide information on how to assess, understand and measure how ready a community is to address issues like suicide, and how to use that knowledge to stimulate change. The Community Readiness Model (CRM), developed at Colorado State University identifies dimensions, such as leadership involvement, knowledge of the problem, levels of community readiness and can be easily scored by the community.

Eliminating stigma faced by peer support staff

This video provides examples of stigma that peer support staff may face when being integrated into behavioral health provider organizations and describes strategies to overcome and eliminate this stigma to help ensure successful integration of peer support staff.

Breaking the silence: Suicide prevention in law enforcement

The report was generated through the National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence of Law Enforcement Suicides held in the summer of 2013. Subject matter experts dedicated to the psychological welfare of officers participated in the symposium, which was composed of a diverse group of law enforcement executives, officers, police psychologists, researchers, professors, and representatives from federal, professional, and non-profit agencies. The results included prevention, intervention, and post-intervention recommendations set forth in this report.

The video features police officers from Kenosha and Denver police departments, who describe their struggles in coping with challenges of law enforcement and their own experiences with suicide. Officers discuss overcoming the idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness and that supports are available such as professional services peer support officers, and chaplains. It provides guidance on what departments can do toward establishing a supportive environment. It also provides resources for further information. The video is accompanied by a discussion guide designed to help officers start a discussion about suicide among law enforcement.

A voice at the table

This documentary highlights the need for the voices of individuals with lived experience to inform suicide prevention planning, policy, and training.

Saving Our Lives: Preventing Suicide in Transgender Communities Video and Discussion Guide

Saving Our Lives: Preventing Suicide in Transgender Communities Video and Discussion Guide provides simple but important recommendations for recognizing and intervening with members of the transgender community who may be at risk for suicide. As such, it is appropriate for both caregivers and the general public. The video guide provides background on transgender suicide, definitions of transgender-related terms, and recommendations for addressing those who are transgender. It also lists six discussion questions that can help facilitate discussion of the important topics found in the video. The 10-minute video includes practical examples of how to recognize possible warning signs of suicide, how to ask directly about suicide, and how to help those who may be at risk for suicide.  

Saving Our Lives: Preventing Suicide in Transgender Communities Video and Discussion Guide was created by the Massachusetts Transgender Suicide Prevention Working Group, a collaboration of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Fenway Health, Samaritans, Inc., and the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. The working group was formed in 2008 to address the issue of transgender suicide by working to make communities safer and healthier for transgender people.

Information in the video and discussion guide is based on a literature review and feedback from the transgender community and service providers. The related brochure was adapted from a similar brochure produced by Samaritans, Inc. 

Program Objectives

Those who view the video will have greater:

  1. Knowledge of how individuals at risk for suicide may act.
  2. Knowledge of how to ask about suicide.
  3. Knowledge of how to seek help for someone who may be at risk for suicide.
  4. Knowledge of how to seek support as a helper.

Implementation Essentials

  • Those who sponsor viewing and discussion of the video should be aware of local helping resources and let participants know how to contact these resources.
  • It would be helpful to have a mental health professional attend presentations of the video.

2012 NSSP Objectives Addressed: 

Objective 5.3: Intervene to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in populations with suicide risk.

Objective 7.1: Provide training on suicide prevention to community groups that have a role in the prevention of suicide and related behaviors.

Real Teenagers Talking about Depression: A Video-Based Study Guide

Developed by Erika’s Lighthouse, Real Teenagers Talking about Depression: A Video-Based Study Guide is a 1-hour universal intervention for middleschool and high-school classrooms that focuses on depression education. The purpose of the video and study guide is to increase student knowledge about depression, reduce stigma surrounding depression and increase the likelihood that students with depression will receive help. In addition to the video and study guide, there are a number of optional exercises, including understanding depression, the science of the brain and depression, exploring stigma, how to help a friend, coping with stress and resiliency, and bullying and depression. The study guide was developed by the board and staff of Erika’s Lighthouse that includes mental health professionals and was reviewed by the Erika’s Lighthouse board, mental health professionals and educators.

Program content is based on research that shows that: depression is common among adolescents; it is a major risk factor for youth suicide; it is a diagnosable mental disorder with specific symptoms; it is treatable and friends are often the first to know about a friend’s depression. 

Program Objectives

Students who view the video and receive the accompanying lesson will have increased understanding of:

  1. Depression and its symptoms.
  2. Warning signs of suicide.
  3. Stigma and how it affects help-seeking behavior.
  4. Effective treatments for depression.
  5. How to get help for themselves or their friends.

Implementation Essentials

  • Schools that use Real Teenagers Talking about Adolescent Depression should have established protocols for addressing students who may be at risk for suicide. School administrators, faculty, and staff should be aware of the protocols.
  • Real Teenagers Talking about Adolescent Depression is most effective when used as part of school’s larger strategic plan to promote student wellbeing and safety.

2012 NSSP Objectives Addressed: 

Objective 7.1: Provide training on suicide prevention to community groups that have a role in the prevention of suicide and related behaviors.