College To Host Suicide Prevention Workshop
Bermuda College will hold a one-day workshop “aimed at reducing stigma around suicide and giving professionals and members of the public practical tools to recognise and respond to people who may be struggling.”
A spokesperson said, “Demystifying Suicide: Let’s Talk About It!’, led by Sherrie Lynn Lilley, a Certified Suicide Educator and Licensed Mental Health Counsellor, will take place on World Suicide Prevention Day, on Thursday, September 10, from 9am to 4pm at the Butterfield & Vallis Conference Centre at the College.
“The workshop, offered through the College’s APACE programme, will be divided into two parts, covering suicide prevention and education followed by crisis response training designed for frontline workers.
“It is open to frontline professionals, first responders, crisis counsellors, social workers, medical staff and members of the general public who wish to attend for personal reasons. Participants can attend one or both sessions.”
Karen Smith, programme coordinator at APACE, said: “As a community college, we strive to respond to the evolving needs of the community. Through APACE’s healthcare programmes, we recognise that supporting health must include both physical and mental well-being.
“Suicide is a global public health crisis that also affects Bermuda, making it important that professionals and community members have the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately.”
She added: “We hope to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and help participants feel more confident discussing it.
“The workshop will introduce practical interventions, treatment strategies and safety planning, as well as compassionate approaches to supporting families grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.”
A spokesperson added, “The first half of the workshop will examine what suicide and suicidality are, how people can experience suicidal ideation and how to recognise when someone may be struggling. It will also look at approaches to prevention.”
Ms Lilley said: “They’re definitely going to walk away with a clear understanding of what it means to be suicidal and to have what’s called suicidality and that some of the driving forces are not what we think.
“So we’re going to debunk a lot of myths. We’re going to discuss a lot of what creates such a large stigma around this topic.”
A spokesperson added, “The training will consider cultural and religious factors and include what Ms Lilley described as a “layman’s quick four-step risk assessment”. Participants will also explore interventions, including a six-step collaborative approach intended to involve the individual experiencing suicidality in the process.”
Ms Lilley added: “What this training does is that when I give some ideas of how to recognise when a person may be struggling, the next thing that you’re going to do is not be afraid to say to the person, ‘Are you struggling?’”
The first half of the workshop is aimed at anyone, Ms Lilley said, including people who are not mental health professionals.
She said: “It’s going to have aspects of it that are clinical. I’m going to go over some clinical protocols, but that doesn’t exclude my next-door neighbour from being able to understand it because I do lay everything out in layman’s terms.”
A spokesperson added, “The training will also include videos and role play. The second half will focus on crisis response for frontline workers. Four modules will cover immediate response and protocols, psychological first aid, immediate tools and resource deployments, and provider secondary trauma and self-care protocols.”
Ms Lilley said: “The goal is to have enough information so that you feel better equipped.”
The fee is $395, with financial support available to eligible Bermudian students. For more information email apace@college.bm or, for financial information, email financialsupportservices@college.bm.
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