We’re serious about preventing suicide. Contact us and we’ll work with you to choose and present a training at your school, workplace, church, or other community group. Thanks to our generous supporters, our programming is offered at no cost to attendees. Below are some of the trainings we offer. Please ask about customizing a training for your needs.
Our Programs
This youth and family program defines good mental health and addresses what can get in the way of maintaining good mental health. Attendees are empowered to check in on themselves, to practice strategies that encourage achieving and maintaining good mental health, and to reach out for support when it is needed. Included are tips to manage stress, cope with the problems in life, and be mindful of thoughts, emotions, and reactions. 60 minutes.
Appropriate for larger groups of parents and students together.
Erika’s Lighthouse programs are multi-level to be appropriate for students in grades 4-12. There are accompanying programs for teachers, youth leaders, and families. Each level contains videos, slides, and lessons that teach key concepts about depression and suicide awareness and prevention through students’ stories, narration, and graphics. Teens are taught where and how to access help and support for themselves or their peers if they should need it. 60-90 minutes; class size can vary, but talking about sensitive issues is best done in groups less than 30.
With 15-20% of young people affected by a mental health condition, it is now likely that you will need to assist someone with their mental health needs. Learn how to confidently listen and talk to teens and tweens about mental health and wellness, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Become one of the trusted adults (parents, teachers, coaches, youth leaders, etc.) who teens can approach with concerns about themselves and their peers.
Leave with materials to help you start conversations, show you care, take action, and follow up with help and support for mental health concerns. 60-90 minutes
For parents, teachers, coaches, and other professionals who work with youth.
Designed to raise awareness about mental health issues commonly experienced by college students, this program encourages help-seeking behavior. By featuring real stories and experiences, It’s Real conveys that depression and other mental health conditions are real illnesses that can be managed through specific treatments and interventions. It encourages students to be mindful of the state of their mental health, to acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and to take steps to seek help. One hour includes documentary video and discussion. Best for college students and the college-bound.
Powered by our generous donors, the Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation offers trainings of It’s Real for free in the community. Contact us to schedule a training for your organization, school, sorority, fraternity, or group of any kind.
Fun Fact: Virginians will likely recognize one of the three campuses used for filming the documentary.
Question, Persuade, & Refer teaches the basics of preventing suicide. After this training, participants will know common warning signs of suicide and how to get help for someone having a mental health emergency. They will also become familiar with symptoms of depression and learn what resources are available for those in need. QPR saves lives by empowering educators, congregations, workplaces, and other groups to ask about suicide, persuade someone that help is needed, and refer someone to care and support.
90 minutes including practice role play; limited to 30 people (ages 15+)
Powered by our generous donors, the Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation offers trainings of QPR for free in the community. Contact us to schedule a training for your organization, school, workplace, or group of any kind.
safeTALK prepares individuals to become suicide-alert helpers in the community. Attendees will learn to recognize suicide risk and warning signs, how to ask someone about suicidal thoughts, how to provide safety, why we so often miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide, and how to connect someone with suicidal thoughts to care and support.
Powerful videos are used to model the helping steps, and participants have the opportunity to practice through role-play.
3.5 hours; limited to 30 participants. ages 15+
Interested in hosting a safeTALK training for your staff? Contact us!
Want to attend a safeTALK training and learn how to best respond to someone in crisis? Check out our upcoming events and join our email list to be notified about future trainings.
Suicidal desperation impacts church members, leaders, and clergy. Where do we find suicidal desperation in the Bible? In this Bible-based training, attendees will learn how to minister to those who are currently considering suicide, those who are anxious that a family member or friend might be considering suicide, those that have lost a loved one to suicide, and those who have experienced suicidal thinking in the past but are no longer having those thoughts.
Sometimes all people need is a sign that they are supposed to live. You can be that sign when you learn to talk about suicide and lead people to help.
Two hours; group size may vary.
If your congregation is interested in hosting a Soul Shop for Congregations workshop, contact us to schedule this program.
If your group would rather be trained online, we’re happy to facilitate this. Many of our programs are available in a virtual format, using Microsoft Teams or another, similar platform. Occasionally, we host our own online trainings and encourage attendance from all over the world. Sign up and we’ll let you know about upcoming events.