The next Gatekeepers training session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Wyoming Union Big Horn Room 203. To register, e-mail the UW Counseling Center at uccstaff@uwyo.edu.
The training is the first step in educating students, staff and faculty on the importance of suicide prevention awareness. The goal is to promote help-seeking behaviors and reduce the stigma of seeking care for mental and behavioral health problems.
Each two-hour training session will define warning signs and risks of suicide, define protective factors against suicide, and provide resources and skills to make a referral to a professional. The training sessions are open to all interested students, staff, faculty and community members.
"The state of Wyoming is ranked fifth for suicide deaths per capita," says Brenda Tracy, UW mental health counselor. "We know that most people who are severely depressed or suicidal will not automatically seek out a professional counselor. Gatekeeper training can provide a bridge to professional help and bring suicide out of the silence."
Another session is scheduled for Monday, April 11, also from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
