Community-Based Suicide Prevention Program
Lowering suicide risk through policy, support, and intervention
Who we are
We bring risk for suicide down through improvements to public policies and attitudes, infrastructure, and the timely intervention of professionals, friends, family and strangers.
What we do
The state suicide prevention program offers grants, resources and training for individuals and communities.
Community-Based Suicide Prevention Program Information
Solutions
Solutions
The Community-Based Suicide Prevention Program is based on
- Intervention (hope and helpline)
- Prevention (building community)
- Resilience (building resilience and discovering passions)
Alaska Postvention Project
Alaska Postvention Project
"Postvention" is the response provided to a person that attempts suicide, with a goal of minimizing the risk of repeated attempts, and to help communities heal. This is similar to preparedness planning and response for natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
- 2020 Planning Guide: 2020 Alaska Suicide Postvention Guide: Preparing to HealA step-by-step help for communities to plan ahead in case of a suicide. It has sections for schools, families, funeral speakers, clergy and more.
- Training: Connect:Helps communities and service providers respond in a coordinated and comprehensive way after a suicide or any sudden death.
No-Cost Training
No-Cost Training
Many suicide prevention trainings are available for the public and providers.
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) and CAMS-4Teens:
CAMs is an evidence-based, suicide focused treatment framework used to quickly reduce suicidal ideation in 6-8 sessions. Part of the Zero-suicide framework, this model can be used everywhere from emergency rooms to private practice. Training opportunities include on-demand training, role play days and consultation calls.
The CAMS-4Teens™ training is designed to provide guidance on adapting the CAMS Framework® for youth ages 12 and older. It offers updated information on the prevention of teen suicide, how to involve family members and how to work within systems of care, such as hospitals, schools, justice, and outpatient settings.
This course is a 3 hour on-demand training for clinical providers and comes with 3 CEUs. Training in the CAMs Model (either the on-demand course or an educational half day) is strongly recommended but not required.
Cost: Free! Brought to you by the State of Alaska Department of Health
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
This interactive on-demand course presents an evidence-based, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) approach for suicide prevention. Clinicians will learn to conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment, strengthen the therapeutic relationship, conceptualize suicidal ideation, and plan treatment, develop a safety plan, and much more. Clinicians will see how to tailor treatment to their individual clients using affective, behavioral, and cognitive interventions for suicide prevention.
Cost: Free! Brought to you by the State of Alaska Department of Health
If interested in enrolling in the CAMS, CAMS4Teens, and/or CBT-SP courses, please visit UAA Center for Human Development or contact the support team at support@aktclms.org or 907-264-6244.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
This 2-day workshop teaches the skills to provide a suicide first-aid intervention, work with someone to develop a personalized safety plan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help. This is an In-person skills-based workshop that is highly interactive and uses experiential learning in the form of roleplays and practice using suicide intervention skills that are evidence-based. Participants learn a 6-task suicide first-aid model through presentations, interactive discussion, and feature videos.
Cost: Free! Funding is provided by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
Contact Wendi Shackleford to schedule one for your agency or community.
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR):
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR):
This course is designed to teach health and behavioral health professionals, as well as support staff working with individuals at risk for suicide, how to assess and manage clients or patients at all levels of suicide risk in clinical practice. The course aims to equip learners with the necessary skills to effectively identify and manage suicide risk in individuals under their care. If interested in participating in this training, please contact Anneliese Hudson.
Zero Suicide Initiative
Zero Suicide Initiative
Zero Suicide is an evidence-based framework to provide safer suicide care within healthcare settings. This framework is a priority of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and has been implemented around the globe. The Division of Behavioral Health has been working to bring this initiative to Alaska, by establishing a Statewide Zero Suicide Program Coordinator position, providing trainings to primary health and behavioral healthcare providers, as well as numerous other efforts. For additional information related to this initiative, contact Mya Robinson.