 The National Center for Suicide Prevention Training (NCSPT) workshops are a unique opportunity because internet-based training allows you to participate from home or work (or wherever else you have access to the Internet, (e.g. a coffee shop, the library, your in-laws house, etc) and it's completely FREE!
The following information will give you an overview about the online workshops and how to participate.
The National Center for Suicide Prevention Training (NCSPT) provides educational resources to help public officials, service providers, community-based coalitions, and other interested individuals develop effective suicide prevention programs and policies. NCSPT is federally funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and is a collaborative effort between the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/ and the Education Development Center, www.edc.org .
What workshops are currently available?
Locating, Understanding, and Presenting Youth Suicide Data
The first step in addressing any public health problem is to access and examine data to help describe and understand the extent and nature of the problem. This workshop will introduce some of the important issues in accessing and analyzing suicide-related data, which can be used to educate the public, policy makers, and advocates about the problem of youth suicide. We will review how to obtain suicide data and translate it into useful formats for different audiences.
Planning and Evaluation for Youth Suicide Prevention
The information collected to identify the suicide problem and to understand the community's perception of the problem should be used to develop a comprehensive state suicide prevention plan. This workshop will cover the essential elements for developing a statewide plan to promote the development of suicide prevention strategies at the state and local levels. It will also address realistic program evaluation, starting at the onset of the planning phase and continuing throughout program implementation.
Youth Suicide Prevention: An Introduction to Gatekeeping
One of the most frequently implemented strategies for population based suicide prevention is gatekeeper training. This workshop will heighten awareness of risk factors associated with youth suicide and awareness of youth suicide prevention and intervention. Participants will learn how gatekeepers identify and respond to youth who may be suicidal. This workshop is NOT gatekeeper training. It is an introduction to a particular suicide prevention intervention. We encourage participants to sign up for a formal gatekeeper training program if they wish to become gatekeepers.
The research Evidence for Suicide as a Preventable Public Health Issue This workshop provides an in-depth examination of the research evidenceunderpinning the claim that suicide is a preventable public health problem.The three modules 1) introduce a public health approach to prevention, 2) examine in some depth the evidence for a "lethal means reduction" approach topreventing youth suicide, and 3) provide an overview of comprehensive community strategies. Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone who is interested in suicide prevention and who has access to the Internet is eligible. People who may be especially interested include: State or local government officials (e.g. Staff from Departments of Health, Mental health, Corrections, etc..), Mental health providers, Other health/service providers, Counselors, Teachers, Members of community planning groups, Policy makers, and other interested individuals. If you have questions whether this workshop is appropriate for other groups or individuals, please contact ncspt@sprc.org.
How can I get training over the Internet?
Very easily actually. You will be provided an internet address to access the workshop. Once there, you will be instructed exactly what to do. Briefly, the course contains the following elements:
1. Three modules per workshop, each focused on a specific topic
2. Links to many valuable resources found on the internet (e.g. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, etc.)
3. Suicide-related data sources (e.g. CDC data, etc.)
4. Specific state and/or local information
5. Activities
6. Expert facilitation/feedback*
7. Interaction and networking with people from across the U.S.*
* Found in the facilitated version of the workshop only
What is the Facilitated version?
Note: The facilitated version of the workshops listed above are now complete and will no longer be offered. However, you may still sign up for the self-paced version of the workshops.
The facilitated workshop includes the workshop web site along with an area called the Discussion Board or Web Board. The web board is moderated by the facilitator who posts questions for workshop participants to respond to. Because participants come from all over the country, the web board is a valuable place to meet new people and learn about suicide prevention efforts in the U.S. Participants in the facilitated workshop can ask questions of the facilitator and of each other. It's a great networking and learning opportunity!
Facilitated version scenario:
Jane is dedicated in her job as the Violence Prevention Specialist at a State department of health. She works many hours and seeks professional development, but with budget cuts, the Health Department doesn't have money for travel or training. Jane is told she can participate in local training if it is free. This leaves few options for Jane. Jane signs up for the NCSPT workshop, "Locating, Understanding, and Presenting Youth Suicide Data". Jane logs onto the course web site several times a week when she has 5 or 10 minutes here or there. At night she posts answers to the workshop activities on the group discussion board. The next day, she reads the feedback from the other workshop participants and from the facilitator. From time to time Jane participates in real-time activities (i.e. conference calls), all of which are free. Six weeks and approximately 18 hours of work later, Jane has renewed interest in her work and her boss is impressed by her initiative and by the abundance of information she now has on suicide prevention. Jane's next evaluation is the best yet!
Do I need to log-in to the course at any specific time if I take the Facilitated version?
No. A very loose schedule is suggested such as, spending 2-4 hours per week on the workshop. However, when you choose to spend this time is up to you. You can view the workshop web site and discussion board at any time, day or night. If you want to participate in the periodic conference calls or real-time lectures (part of the facilitated course) then you do need to participate at a particular time, otherwise, you participate at your leisure.
How is the self-paced version different from the facilitated version?
The self-paced version of the workshop is exactly the same as the facilitated version except there is no discussion area (i.e. interaction with a facilitator or other participants) and there are no real-time lectures or conference calls which are often part of the facilitated version. We do recommend spending at least 2 hours per week on the workshop, but this is optional. You are free to work at your own pace.
Self-paced scenario 1:
John goes to school and works as a crisis line volunteer on the weekends. He's also a member of his state's suicide prevention planning team. John signs up for the self-paced version of workshop 1 because he doesn't have the time to meaningfully participate in discussions with other workshop participants. His sole objective is to bring back information to his state planning team.
Self-paced scenario 2:
Maria is an epidemiologist who was asked to work on a suicide prevention project. While she is well-versed in data analysis, she could use some pointers on how to locate suicide data. She signs up for the self-paced version of the workshop. She opts to pay special attention to the data sources section and just skims the rest of the course.
Time spent on the workshops is completely variable depending on your schedule. Some people opt to spend a couple of hours per week and will finish an entire workshop in 4 weeks (8 hours). Other people will finish the workhop in two days (4 hours each day). Some people have found that the workshop takes more time than this but this depends on the level of detail you are interested in. For example, if you follow all of the links provided in the workshops and do all the activities, it may take several more hours to complete a workshop.
Will I receive credit or proof of my participation?
Everyone who completes a workshop, fills out the on-line evaluation, and takes the post-test getting a score of 70% or better, will receive a certificate of completion. In addition, workshops have continuing education units available.
Workshop 1: Locating, Understanding, and Presenting Youth Suicide Data
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), 18.0 CHES
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 15.0 CH
Workshop 2: Planning and Evaluation for Youth Suicide Prevention
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), 15.0 CHES
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 15.0 CH
Workshop 3: Youth Suicide Prevention: An Introduction to Gatekeeping
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), 12.0 CHES
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 12.0 CH
Workshop 4: The Research Evidence for Suicide as a Preventable Public Health Issue National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), 12.0 CHES
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 12.0 CH How much experience is necessary?
Minimal experience is necessary. An interest in suicide prevention, a computer, and access to the Internet is all that is required.
Is there a registration deadline?
No. At the current time, there are three available workshops and all are available on an ongoing basis.
To sign up for any of the workshops, please go back to the homepage and create a user name and password.
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Last modified: Saturday, May 16 2009, 08:46 PM