Dream Project partners with HSPA for suicide prevention training

Dream Project and Huskies for Suicide Prevention and Awareness, a student organization on campus, are collaborating together to launch thorough trainings on suicide prevention and awareness to all Dream Project mentors starting Spring Quarter 2015. These trainings are to support both mentors and mentees, helping to establish well-rounded mentors.

This initiative will have three components to it:

1. All CCRAs are required to participate in a SafeTALK Training
2. All High School Leads are participating in a SafeTALK Training during their weekly meeting at the start of the quarter.
3. The 360 Lecture will receive a 40- minute condensed version of the SafeTALK Training, with the goal of teaching mentors how to recognize if a mentee expresses suicidal ideation or signs of depression. This lecture will include a social media component that most trainings in the area do not touch on, however, is vital to Dream Project. Finally, the lecture will emphasise how to talk to a mentee that has expressed suicidal ideation or signs of depression and what the next steps are (including Dream Project protocol).
1. Right after the lecture, students will do a 10-minute exercise in their breakout where they do a role play with a partner.

SafeTALK is a 3-hour certification process where a mentor will learn how to recognize the signs of someone who is depressed, has thoughts of suicide or is one step away from suicide. The mentor, the SafeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, will be taught what to say, ask and do in a situation where they recognize the signs.

This training will allow the mentor to bridge the gap between the person and suicide first aid resources. Through this training, the mentor will learn how to speak about suicide, and become comfortable with their role in helping those suffering from these thoughts.