Preparing for the Session
Key Learning Points
This training opens up the conversation about suicide to reduce the negative stigma surrounding suicide and decrease anxiety about talking to others about suicide. Key learning points of the training include the following:
- We can all play a role in supporting students’ mental health.
- By knowing the signs of suicide risk and understanding the needs of a person at risk of suicide, we can support others.
- Conversations about suicide are never comfortable, but it is possible to develop skills for talking to someone about suicide and to increase our confidence.
- There are practical steps to take in starting a conversation about suicide with another student.
- We can make a difference to a person who is thinking about suicide by knowing how to recognize the signs of distress, responding empathetically, and knowing how to refer them to campus and community resources.
- Listening without judgment is key when talking to someone who may be at risk of suicide.
- Participants are not expected to act as counsellors and should not attempt to diagnose a person’s mental health problems.
- Participants need to be aware of their own boundaries and need for self-care. If they are overwhelmed by the session, they may want to talk to a counsellor.
Consider Who Is Attending the Session
This session is intended for students who are interested in learning more about mental health and working to build an inclusive and resilient community at their post-secondary institution. Many students who are interested in this training will be in leadership roles (e.g., residence assistants, peer group leaders, and teaching assistants) and will have to follow procedures that are specific to your post-secondary institution. You will need to know your institution’s protocols for student employees helping students in crisis. Student employees will be obligated to report their concerns if they become aware of a student who is in crisis and mentions suicide, but the procedures may vary from campus to campus. Students who are not employees do not have the same obligation. However, you will need to reinforce boundaries for these students.
Think about the student population at your institution. It may not be possible to know in advance who is attending, but if you do, these are some things to consider:
- Will there be international students in the session or students who work with international students?
- Are there specific cultural differences to consider? For example, in some cultures, such as South Asian cultures, mental illness is still stigmatized, and students may be uncomfortable talking about it. A helpful resource on South Asian students and mental health is South Asian Mental Health (SOCH) website. SOCH was one of the producers of The Pardesi Project, a film on the mental health of South Asian international students.
Keep in mind that the mental health words we use in English may not exist in other languages, as mental health and