MASP provides important education on suicide awareness and prevention by either hosting or participating in events throughout the state.
Recent Accomplishments
Joint Conference with the MACMHB
On November 19, 2008, MASP accepted an invitation from the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards (MACHMB) to host a half-day pre-conference for its first annual conference in Lansing on suicide prevention statewide. MASP President Larry Lewis, along with Pat Smith of the State of Michigan Violence Prevention Program, provided conference attendees with a comprehensive review of prevention efforts throughout the state, including an update on the implementation of the State Plan.
"Healing and Hope After Suicide" - Survivors' Conferences
This series of conferences started again in 2007 as an opportunity for survivors to learn better ways to manage their grief, connect with others who have experienced the same kind of loss, and lower their own risk by learning more about suicide in general and prevention efforts in Michigan. Key topics include:
Survivors' Journey through Grief
Attempter's Journey through Suicide
First Responders
Survivor Resources
Self-Care
Memorial
We thank Baker's College in Owosso for graciously hosting our first two conferences. We also thank the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency (D-WCCMHA) and the Virtual Center for Excellence (VCE) in Allen Park for co-hosting our third conference in 2009.
Current Trainings (Pre-registration is required.)
1. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
This 2-day interactive training was developed by the LivingWorks, a Canadian organization, to teach people how to intervene in order to prevent someone from taking immediate action to attempt suicide. It is not limited to health professionals or caregivers, but designed for anyone who deals with the public - teachers, counselors, coaches, first responders, clergy, retail, etc. - and may be in a position to help.
The key objectives are to:
Help attendees to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in taking action to prevent a suicide.
Prepare caregivers of all backgrounds to provide suicide first aid to persons at risk of suicide.
Teach interventions, knowledge, skills and resources for suicide prevention.
To register for trainings in Wayne County, please visit the Virtual Center of Excellence's online calendar to find the next available session. Continuing education (CE) credits are also available to social workers who complete both days of this training.
*Note: Media reports in March 2009 called attention to a group that uses a name that sounds like ASIST to promote and engage in assisted suicide. ASIST is not that group. ASIST is a suicide prevention training program.
2. safeTALK (Suicide Alertness For Everyone)
This half-day training was also developed by the LivingWorks as an extension of ASIST. It is designed to teach communities and organizations to help people who are thinking about suicide. The key objectives are to:
Prepare people of all backgrounds to be aware of signs of suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Teach how to listen so people at risk will talk about their feelings and the help they need.
Help attendees to feel comfortable and competent in connecting at-risk people to professional help.
To find a training near you, please send us an e-mail (attn: safeTALK) that includes your name, your phone number, and the best day and time to reach you.
3. Technical Assistance (TA) Conferences
These 2-day conferences are designed to provide local communities with the knowledge and skills they need to develop a suicide prevention plan or improve their efforts to put an existing plan into action. Topics are chosen to address the attendees' goals and objectives, and presented by experts who are highly respected within Michigan and beyond. The conferences are organized by Pat Smith, the Violence Prevention Program Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), as funding becomes available. Past conferences were made possible with federal grants through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. This piece of federal legislation was passed in 2004 to set aside federal funds to pay for suicide prevention education throughout the country. It was named after the son of U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith; Garrett died by suicide in 2003 at the age of 21.
MASP has been involved in every past conference. They are well-attended so early registration is a must. Announcements regarding future conference dates will be posted on our calendar, blog, or Yahoo! group.
4. Clinical Core Competencies (Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk: Clinical Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals)
This 1-day training is designed to provide mental health professionals with a "best practices" approach to assessing and managing suicide risk. The key objectives are to:
Manage one's own reactions to suicide
Reconcile the different and potential conflict between a clinician's goal to prevent suicide and a client's goal to eliminate psychological pain through suicide
Maintain a collaborative, non-adversarial stance
Develop a written treatment and services plan that addresses a client's immediate, acute, and continuing suicide ideation and risk for suicide
Continuing education (CE) credits can also be earned by psychologists and social workers who complete this training.
To register for trainings in Wayne County, please visit the Virtual Center of Excellence's online calendar to find the next available session.
Want More Information?
Please check our Calendar, Blog, and Links on a regular basis to learn about events in Michigan and beyond that provide education on suicide prevention and postvention, such as state and national conferences, and local training programs.
MASP, P.O. Box 0546, Allen Park, MI, 48101-0546, (734) 624-8328, masponweb@ymail.com
Copyright © 2010
Last Updated: 2/28/2010