Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper
Florida youth are one of our most precious commodities, yet a significant number of our teens and young adults are lost each year to suicide.
"I thought about it and not just once. But I was lucky there was someone there who helped me see that it was not the best solution or the only solution."
Chrissie age 16 -Youth Suicide Prevention Study
"Train-The-Trainer" Workshop
The Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Study Report to the Florida Legislature posed the question, "How can we assure that there is always someone there who can help?" Gatekeeper training is designed to do just that. It provides evidence-based training to caregivers and gatekeepers throughout the state to help ensure that "someone" is always there who can help.
Youth suicide is neither random nor inevitable. The knowledge and tools are available to approach suicide as a preventable problem with realistic opportunities to save many lives. There is a compelling need to transform attitudes and provide key gatekeepers - people who come into contact with youth in distress - training that will enable them to recognize those factors that place youth at risk for suicide and to learn appropriate interventions.
The Florida Task Force on Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy recognize that there is abundant evidentiary data to substantiate the availability of identifiable risk factors, warning signs and protective factors that impinge on suicide. Both recommend the training of gatekeepers as a practical and necessary step in preventing suicide.
Training key gatekeepers - teachers, school nurses, school personnel, police officers, mental health care providers, and emergency health care personnel - and other adults who interact with young people can expand community resources resulting in a more supportive environment for our children and youth. Through education and prevention efforts we can ensure that the desperate cries for help of our young people in pain will not fall on deaf ears.
The objective of the Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program is to establish a network of adults trained to recognize, respond appropriately and refer our young people for help.
The 1-day train the trainer workshop focuses on the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to address suicide prevention. While developed for the prevention of youth suicide the workshops can be modified to address any age group, especially the elderly.
- Each year more than 6,300 older adults take their own lives, which means nearly 18 older Americans kill themselves each day.
- Older adults have the highest suicide rate - more than 50% higher than young people or the nation as a whole.
The "Train The Trainer" workshop is in no way a comprehensive look at suicide, nor is the training intended to replace counseling or mental health services. The training equips trainers with the skills and confidence to conduct 1-8 hour Gatekeeper workshops for their agencies or Florida communities.
The Workshop
The 1-day train the trainer workshop focuses on the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to address suicide prevention. The workshop is an interactive training experience. The exercises, small group discussions, videos, and role-playing make the workshop interesting and engaging. Ideally, the workshop consists of 25 participants with a willingness to commit to conducting Gatekeeper training for others in their communities.
The training workshop consists of 11 modules:
- Key Terms
- Attitudes and Beliefs
- Understanding Young People in Crisis
- Recognizing Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Clues
- Protective Factors and Positive Emotional Development
- Responding to Suicidal Behavior
- Community Resources
- Managing Suicide or Sudden Death
- Helping Survivors
- Featuring Suicide in the Media
- Gatekeeper Training Program Suggested Outlines
The Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program provides two facilitators to conduct the 1- day train the trainer workshop at your facility. We have developed a training support package to enhance the training efforts of certified trainers. Each workshop participant receives a training support package including a Trainers Guide, Information Booklet, numerous Power Point presentations, Scheduling support and tips, handouts and a CD-ROM with all of the support materials to aide in the reproduction of the materials.
Workshop Participant Comments
The workshop is one of the best I have ever attended. The videos were great & the booklet, CD, handouts are invaluable.
The flow of the presentation was excellent; the content was thoughtful and well presented. Very relevant to me as a minister, counselor and member of the community.
The experiences of the trainers made the experience of the participants grounded in reality. Suicide should not be discussed in cold, abstract - they brought it to life!
Workshop provided a wealth of information and contact persons that can be called upon "when its beyond my ability".
A great training session - role-playing VERY effective!!!
I wish more parents and groups that deal with young people participated and knew about the training.
Contact Us
For more information regarding the Florida Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Train the Trainer Workshops please email us at:
gatekeeper@thebethfoundation.com
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