ISU Institute of Rural Health hosts free suicide prevention workshop May 18 in Coeur d’Alene

The latest  scientific information about youth suicide, warning signs, risk and prevention will be discussed in a free training session Tuesday, May 18, sponsored by the Awareness to Action Idaho Youth Suicide Prevention Project at Idaho State University-Institute of Rural Health.

It will be held at Coeur d’Alene’s Best Western Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seating is limited so you must pre-register at http://isu.edu/irh/. You also can contact  Kirsti Beck at preventsuicide@isu.edu  or (208) 282-4436.

Social workers, nurses and licensed counselors who attend the entire six-hour training session are eligible for continuing education credit. 

The session will assist community leaders, mental health providers, first responders, parents, advocates and those who provide care for children and young adults. Trauma experienced by caregivers also will be discussed.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Idahoans, ages 10-14 and third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. Up to 94 percent of teens and young adults who complete suicide have a diagnosable mental illness at the time of death, making early intervention and treatment vital to saving lives, said Ann Kirkwood, senior research associate at ISU-Meridian.

"By training Idaho adults to recognize signs and symptoms of suicide risk and to encourage them to intervene early we seek to reduce Idaho's high suicide rate," Kirkwood said.

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 Contact Information: Kirsti Beck, (208) 282-4436 or preventsuicide@isu.edu