The next Gatekeepers training session is scheduled 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 22, in the Wyoming Union Big Horn Room 203. To register, email the UW Counseling Center at uccstaff@uwyo.edu.
The training is the first step in educating students, staff and faculty about 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 trainings are open to all interested students, staff, faculty and community members.
"Suicide prevention is a priority for students, faculty and staff at the University of Wyoming," says Lena Newlin, AWARE Program coordinator at the UW Counseling Center. "The state of Wyoming is ranked in the top five for suicide deaths per capita. We know that most people who are severely depressed or suicidal may not automatically seek out a professional counselor. Gatekeeper training can provide a bridge to professional help and bring suicide out of the silence."
