Free Training Opportunities

Free, Virtual Mental Health Awareness / Suicide Prevention Training

(All times listed below are Central Time Zone)

Mental Health First Aid - Adult

Teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Mental Health First Aid - Youth

Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to help adolescents (age 12-18) who are experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.

More Than Sad

This program teaches parents and other caring adults about depression, demystifies treatment, and encourages those who are struggling or have a loved one who is struggling to seek help.

Talk Saves Lives

Talk Saves Lives is AFSP's standardized, 45-60 minute education program that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives.

Talk Saves Lives - An Introduction to Suicide Prevention
This community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can to do fight suicide.

Talk Saves Lives - Spanish

Suicide can be prevented. This presentation will cover what we know about this leading cause of death, the most up-to-date research on prevention, and what we can all do to fight suicide. Participants will learn the common risk factors for suicide, how to spot the warning signs in others, and how to keep ourselves, our loved ones and those in our community safe.

Talk Saves Lives - Seniors

The Seniors module provides information on risk factors and warning signs in elderly populations and how their loved ones can best connect those who are struggling with help. This presentation is also available in Spanish.

Talk Saves Lives - An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the LBGTQ Community

This module covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight this leading cause of death among the LBGTQ community.

Talk Saves Lives - Suicide Prevention Education for Workplace Settings

The Workplace Settings module is a 60-minute education presentation designed to be delivered in workplace settings, to organizational leadership, managers/supervisors, and employees. This presentation provides participants with the scope of the problem of suicide key research findings, including risk factors, and warnings signs for suicide, along with recommendations for the role we can all play in suicide prevention.

It's Real: College Students & Mental Health

This 17-minute film follows the journey of six students who wrestled with mental health concerns, sought treatment, made well being a top priority, and found their own sense of balance. It encourages students to be mindful of the state of their mental health, to acknowledge and recognize when they are struggling, and to take steps to seek help. The film is accompanied by a group discussion. This program is appropriate for ages 16+.

It's Real: Teens and Mental Health

Intended for high school classes or community settings with groups of teens, ages from 14 to 18, It's Real: Teens and Mental Health is a 45-minute program that provides young people with mental health education and resources. The program raises awareness about mental health issues, how to start a conversation about mental health, the importance of self-care, and how to reach out for help.

Introduction to Supporting Those at Risk

This program is intended for loved ones, caregivers, and supporters of those with lived experience of suicide attempts and/or ideations who are 18+. This presentation provides information and resources on how to support someone in your life with lived experience, while also taking care of your own mental health.

Safe Reporting Saves Lives

There is research that unsafe reporting about suicide can lead people who may already be at risk for suicide to take their lives, otherwise known as contagion. In this short 25-minute session, Safe Reporting Saves Lives, journalists will learn information and resources on how to report on suicide in a way that is safe and does not lead to other suicides. The information in the session is based on research on safe reporting as it relates to suicide. Audience: Journalists, those working for news outlets including reporters, editors, disc jockeys, copy editors, news producers, etc.,.

Veteran Social Networks and Suicide Loss: Current Research and Resources (Facebook Live Event)

Join us for a Virtual Lunch & Learn Event exploring the topic - Veteran Social Networks and Suicide Loss: Current Research and Resources. Hear from VA Researchers, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator, and AFSP Healing Conversation Volunteer on how we can support veterans after a loss to suicide.

Perspectives on Youth Suicide Prevention: Equity-Based Options

Learn more about national and regional efforts in New England helping educators and other adults working to support young people gain skills to reduce youth suicide rates. We will also showcase best practices for youth suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth and present a robust Q&A opportunity to allow audience members to ask any questions they have about preventing youth suicide.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)

People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. The evidence-based training prepares you to perform QPR with confidence and ease.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) for Youth

In addition to the standard QPR curriculum, this 2-hour course blends elements from the QPR for Youth to provide adults with guidance for assisting youth.