Suicide Prevention Learning Opportunities

Changing the Narrative on Mental Health and Suicide

Talking about mental health and suicide can be an uncomfortable and uncertain topic that can bring up different feelings, beliefs, and attitudes for everyone. Changing the Narrative on Mental Health and Suicide empowers conversations to start in the hopes to change perceptions of mental health towards hope and resilience.

Date and Time: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: Changing the Narrative on Mental Health and Suicide 

The Suicide Prevention Regional Coordination System in Minnesota

The Suicide Prevention Regional Coordination System serves all 87 counties in the State of Minnesota by providing technical assistance and consultation to communities and organizations currently working on suicide prevention or looking for a place to start. Come learn about the Regional Coordinators and how they can support you and your community.

Date and Time: Friday, Sept. 6, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: The Suicide Prevention Regional Coordination System in Minnesota 

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

In 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline transitioned to the three-digit 988 dialing code as part of the federal government’s commitment to increasing access to mental health care. Now branded as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the service allows anyone needing mental health support to call, chat, or text with a trained 988 specialist, develop a safety plan, and receive resources to continue bettering their mental health. Join Minnesota Department of Health staff working with the 988 Lifeline as we share how the Lifeline operates in Minnesota, what a connection with 988 may look like, and data about connections made with the Lifeline in 2023. This session will help attendees learn more about the Lifeline to feel more comfortable connecting with 988 or referring a friend or family member to the service. 

Date and Time: Monday, Sept. 9, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 

Trauma-Informed Data Practices

A survivor-informed practice includes meaningful input from a diverse community of survivors (including youth!) at all stages of a program or project. Applying a trauma-informed lens to ourselves and our interactions with community members can improve our efforts to meaningfully partner with people with lived experience to design and evaluate prevention efforts. In this session, the presenter will facilitate discussions and practices of how trauma-informed approaches inform community engagement, including noticing responses in our own bodies, in the bodies of those we are engaging, and how to mitigate continued harm. A MDH suicide prevention evaluator will share practical tips and lessons learned to practice body-based self-awareness, promote participant safety, and maximize participant power in the context of facilitating engagement and data collection with people and communities who have experienced trauma. Lastly, the presenter will facilitate discussion and model reflection on the ways trauma-informed dissemination considerations support survivor/public health practitioners. 

Date and Time: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: Trauma-Informed Data Practices 

Culture is Prevention: Suicide Prevention in Indian Country

Culture is Prevention: Suicide Prevention in Indian County will walk through a brief history between Native Nations and the Federal government. Participants will learn about how the history and policies impact mental health and suicide prevention work in Indian Country. Then we will move into current efforts and protective factors in community. Rounding off the hour, there will be time to discuss and share current work being done for collective healing. 

Date and Time: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: Culture is Prevention: Suicide Prevention in Indian Country 

Importance of Safe Messaging and Language

Importance of Safe Messaging and Language will empower participants to convey safe and effective messages on mental health and suicide. Participants will learn about tools and resources to promote safe messaging in their communities. By learning about effective public messaging, participants will learn how to go beyond describing the problem and how to create action or solutions. 

Date and Time: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: Importance of Safe Messaging and Language 

Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Reducing Access to Lethal Means

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Reducing Access to Lethal Means by Dr. Paul Nestadt, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Nestadt will discuss the role of lethal means assessment in suicide risk from a clinical perspective and share his experiences working with other states that have implemented extreme risk protection orders. Dr. Nestadt will also share data from Minnesota since the implementation of ERPOs and hold a discussion on different scenarios when considering ERPOs. 

Date and Time: Thursday, Sept. 19, 12 - 1:30 p.m. CDT

Registration: Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Reducing Access to Lethal Means 

Responding to Suicide Loss

A suicide death can have a ripple effect, impacting individuals, families, and whole communities. Helping someone who has lost a loved one to suicide can be challenging and complex, and even feel awkward. It can be hard to know what to say or do to support someone. Friends, families, and communities are an important source of safe support and healing after a suicide loss. This panel discussion will include perspectives of a suicide loss survivor, how to support someone after a suicide loss, and best practices for communities responding to suicide loss.

Date and Time: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 12 - 1 p.m. CDT

Registration: Responding to Suicide Loss 

For questions about these learning opportunities, reach out to health.suicideprev.mdh@state.mn.us.