Suicide Prevention Training Can Help Save Lives In Casper

Do you know someone who took there own life? Were there signs? Would you be able to read such signs? If you answered no or i don't know, there's a training session coming to Casper College that will help citizens be aware of someone at risk of suicide.

When people learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, they help create a safety net in their communities for fellow residents who may find themselves in crisis, according to officials with the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming (PMO).

Natrona County prevention professionals offer two types of free suicide prevention training: Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). PMO staff and activities are funded by the Wyoming Department of Health; both training options are offered free of charge to participants.

An ASIST training will take place in Casper on February 26th and 27th at Casper College.

“Asking someone if they are thinking about taking their own life could be a life-saving question,” said Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth, director of statewide suicide prevention for the PMO. “Our goal is to train community members across all segments of society to have the knowledge and skills to help save those at risk for suicide.”

QPR training is designed for anyone 15 years old and older.

“Just as people trained in medical techniques such as CPR and the Heimlich maneuver help save lives, learning to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis may also save lives,” said Lance Neiberger, a Natrona County QPR Trainer and member of the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force. “QPR training is simple and teaches how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help in a little over an hour.”

ASIST is a comprehensive, two-day intervention-level training. After an ASIST workshop, people will be able to identify an at-risk person, talk with them, link them to appropriate care, and be part of a team improving the community’s response to suicide. ASIST training is accredited to count toward continuing education and training hours for certain professions.

“However, the class is always open to the public,” Carol Hall said, a Natrona County community prevention professional with the PMO. “Most Wyoming residents will be affected by suicide at some point,” Hall said.

Humphries-Wadsworth encouraged parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, human resource managers, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters to attend a local QPR or ASIST training session.

“Really, anyone can be strategically positioned to help someone at risk of suicide,” she said.

To learn more about the scheduled ASIST training or other training options, call Carol Hall at (307) 472-5991. For more information about the PMO, visit www.pmowyo.org