What is it?
An initiative led by The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation to provide suicide awareness information to everyone in Hampton Roads and to train 15-20% of the population in one of the nationally recognized, evidence-based suicide prevention programs. These programs provide citizens with skills and confidence to notice and support people who may be thinking of suicide.
Why is it needed?
Suicide rates are rising because of persistent stigma around the topic and because we aren’t reaching enough people with information that can help stop a suicide. Suicide is now the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. Suicidal people are not able to reach out to save themselves. They need others to notice that they are not ok and to support them and direct them to the care they need to stay alive.
How does it work?
A layered approach to preventing suicide will ensure that there is someone able to intervene whenever a person is in danger of losing their life to suicide. A safety net is built in the community.
Layer 1
A public health campaign focused on messages a out stigma reduction and warning signs for suicide. Accomplished through events, social media, posters, & awqareness programs delivered in schools, work places, libraries, places of worship, and oter community forums, Layer 1 will reduce stigma around asking for and offering help. Everyone needs to know warning signs for suicide and that it’s ok to talk about mental helath and suicide.
(Target audience: 1.7 million or 100% of the population of Hampton Roads.)
Layer 2
Direct training using national evidence-based programs safeTALK, QPR, and Erika’s Lighthouse to teach citizens the warning signs for suicide, how to talk directly to someone about suicide, how to listen calmly, provide support, hope, and safety, and how to direct someone to local resources for care. Any willing person can be a first responder for someone struggling with suicidal thoughts when they have these skills, the confidence to intervene, and knowledge of what resources are available for further support and care.
(Target: approximately 300.000 people or 15-20% of the population of Hampton Roads.)
Layer 3
Composed of people who are trained to perform a suicide intervention for those who are seriously contemplating suicide. This includes both mental health professionals and lay people trained in A.S.I.S.T. (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.) It is important for robust systems of acute care and long-term care and support to be available in the community for those who need them. (Target: approximately 5% of the population or 85,000)
Frequently Asked
Questions
Can regular people really stop suicide?
Yes! A trained person knows what to notice, what to say, how to offer hope and savety, and how to connect someone to local resources for care. The hard part is knowing what to say, and you can learn and practice that in class. Suicide is a preventable death.
Why should I be interested in learning about this?
The suicide rate continues to rise across all demographics, and it is increasingly likely that you will need to support someone at risk of suicide to stay alive and find resources for mental helath care.
Famil and friends who see someone regularly are most likely to notice when someone isn’t heir usual self. You are in a position to help save alife if you learn minimal skills and confidence in your ability.
Shouldn’t I leave mental health care to professionals?
Compare learning QPR for mental health to learning CPR for cardiac health. We don’t become heart doctors in COR class; we become first responders who notice the signs and have basic skills to initially help and support peopl on their way to the licensed professionals. When you learn Question Persuade, & Refer (QPR,) you are doing the same for mental health as you do in CPR class for cardiac health. You will still help the person access professional care.
Why is it called Project 300K?
Sudies show that suicide rates decrease when at least 15% of the population is trained in suicide prevention, so that’s how many people we need to train in Hampton Roads.
How can I help?
Get trained in safeTALK or QPR.
Set up a training for a group by contacting us.
Offer financial support through donation or sponsorship for programs, or alert us to grant opportunities.
Become a partner if your organization offers suicide prevention awareness education.
What are the plans for the first year of the project?
Building, strengthening, and adding to our partnerships with others who provide suicide prevention programming.
Identification of business, school, and other partners who want training for their members, employees, or groups.
Focusing on training for layers 1 & 2 of the suicide safety network in our community.