Link to HOPE is a 90-minute skills-based workshop designed to equip community members and staff across a wide range of settings to recognize and respond to individuals who may be experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide. Drawing on the familiar concept of First Aid, the training helps participants understand how to recognize when someone may be signaling the need for help, directly or indirectly, and how to respond and connect with them confidently and compassionately. Participants learn how to ask openly and directly about suicide, what to do if the person responds “yes,” and how to provide supportive assistance until additional resources can be introduced.

The workshop can be tailored to address workforce- and population-specific considerations.

Intended Audience: Anyone interested in helping to prevent suicide; community members, staff in workplaces (e.g., community-based organizations, faith communities, libraries, housing/reentry services, campuses).

Important Note: This training is not recommended for clinical providers

Course Length: 60-90 minutes

What You’ll Learn

• How to recognize the ways in which a person thinking about suicide often invites help, either directly or indirectly
• How to feel confident in approaching and connecting with that person to ask openly and directly about suicide
• What to do if they respond ‘yes.’
• How to support someone if they acknowledge that they are thinking about suicide