Spencer, IA – Seasons Center for Behavioral Health has multiple options for free community suicide prevention trainings in the area. There are currently two options, a brief, 2-hour training for an applicable process to help individuals in crisis and a 2-day intensive suicide prevention workshop with powerful audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in 2018, there were an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts in the United States. On average, there are 132 completed suicides per day.
“We have seen an increase in suicide attempts and completed suicides in our area for several years, and the need is even higher now due to the overwhelming stressors related to the pandemic,” said Kim Scorza, CEO/President of Seasons Center. “We feel fortunate to have the ability to provide these trainings to our communities through federal funding.”
Seasons is hosting two free community suicide prevention trainings on Monday, March 1, 2021 in Spencer, Iowa and Carroll, Iowa. This two-hour training is called Question, Persuade, and Refer, or QPR, which involves three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
Just as individuals are trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver to save thousands of lives each year, 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. Each year, thousands of Americans, like you, are saying “yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
The trainer of the QPR Suicide Prevention training is Ryan Nesbit, co-chair of Iowa’s Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Nesbit has first-hand knowledge of rural suicide and is a trained QPR training instructor. For most of his adult life, Nesbit has worked tirelessly to bring suicide prevention strategies to communities across Iowa. He helps educate people across the state about suicide warning signs. Nesbit recognizes how difficult it can be to talk about suicide, but says that communication is an important prevention strategy if you see warning signs.
The first training will be held Monday, March 1, 2021, from 9-11 AM at the Great Hall of Royal in Royal, Iowa. This training is co-hosted by the Clay County Farm Bureau. Register for this training at https://bit.ly/3tMziOz.
The second training will be held Monday, March 1, 2021, from 2-4 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Carroll, Iowa. This training is co-hosted by the First United Methodist Church. Register for this training at https://bit.ly/3qdVPBw.
Seasons is hosting a more intensive two-day suicide prevention training, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), where participants will learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive. Michelle Theesfeld, Outpatient Therapist at Seasons, and Lindsay Obbink, Project Director of the COVID Care Team at Seasons, co-facilitate to guide participants through the course and ensure participant safety and comfort.
The second training will be held at Camp Autumn in Sutherland on March 22 and March 23 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM each day. Register today at https://bit.ly/2ZaKWVc. 
To learn more about these trainings offered by Seasons, or other training opportunities, please contact Taylor Prather at tprather@seasonscenter.org and visit Seasons’ website at Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/SeasonsCenterForBehavioralHealth/.
If you (or someone you know) are having thoughts of harming yourself (themselves) or others, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or call the Seasons Center 24/7 Crisis Line at 844-345-4569 to be connected to a caring, trained professional who can get you the help you need. Seasons has a specific program for Suicide Prevention as it relates to impacts of COVID-19. For more information, visit https://seasonscenter.org/specialty-supportive-services.php.