SuicideTALK - an exploration in awareness 9-10-2011

Satruday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

This workshop is being offered on National Suicide Prevention day by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay as a means of raising community awareness and support for suicide prevention.

SuicideTALK is a community-oriented program exploring issues in suicide prevention. This exploration session is designed to help make our community aware that something can be done to prevent suicide. The session's goal is to help make direct, open and honest talk about suicide easier.

SuicideTALK is an exploration of the question, "Should we talk about suicide?" by looking at this question in a number of different ways, session members may discover and uncover some of the beliefs and ideas about suicide in their community - and in themselves.

During this session ways to help a person at risk are discussed. The pain of those touched by suicide is acknowledged. But suicideTALK is primarily an exploration of some of the most fundamental attitudinal issues about suicide. It helps participants clarify their beliefs. Such clarification typically creates a strong foundation for future suicide prevention work. Twenty different ideas are reviewed as suggestions for getting involved in prevention, including simple everyday things and more involved community actions. Session members are encouraged to act on their commitments in the future and to invest in suicide prevention in their community.

Participants learn how to implement the TALK approach with a person who may have suicidal thoughts. Activities demonstrate ways to use the (TALK) Talk, Ask, Listen and Keep Safe method of supporting a person with suicidal thoughts.

SuicideTALK is for all members of a community. As a result of participating in a session you will be better able to:

• encourage life-protecting, preservation and promotion activities,
• facilitate community awareness of suicide as a serious community health problem,
• reduce the stigma and taboo surrounding suicide,
• increase personal commitment to and action in preventing suicide, and
• support the spread of training opportunities and networking activities.

 SuicideTALK is a program developed by the LivingWorks organization.

For more information cantact acillo@crisiscenter.com