Meet FirstLink is a free presentation introducing members of FirstLink’s team and sharing about our life-saving services. The training provides an overview of the 211 Information & Referral Helpline, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and FirstLink’s Care & Support Program. In addition, FirstLink staff will demonstrate how to search our online resource directory and share details on other upcoming trainings.

Training Objectives

Participants will:

• Will be able to search FirstLink’s online database effectively
• Will be able to identify typical helping resources in the community
• Will have knowledge on how to access life-saving services such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 1 hour of credit by ND Board of Social Work.

Suicide Risk Assessment delivers the skills and knowledge needed to effectively deploy the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). C-SSRS is an evidence-based tool for screening for suicide risk. In addition to utilizing the C-SSRS tool, participants will understand how to provide the most appropriate support to someone at risk, such as collaborative safety planning or connecting to other resources.

Training Objectives

Participants will learn to:

• Identify suicide risk factors and warning signs.
• Utilize the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale to assess for suicide risk.
• Utilize a triage plan to connect individuals at risk to the most appropriate help.

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 1 hour of credit by ND Board of Social Work and ND POST.
• Approved to offer 2 hours of credit by MN POST.

Video demonstrations of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale:

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale resources:

LivingWorks START is an online, self-paced module that teaches individuals how to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.

In just 90-minutes, you can learn the basics of how to offer life-saving support to someone in need.

LivingWorks START is the perfect place to START your journey as a suicide first-aider. This training is great for those seeking to start building skills OR for someone who needs a refresher. After completing the START training, caregivers are invited to continue building their toolkit by attending a safeTALK or ASIST workshop!

FirstLink is currently offering FREE licenses to complete LivingWorks START, thanks to a partnership with NDSU Extension.

safeTALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and act by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST.

Training Objectives

Participants will learn to:

• Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts may be present.
• Recognize invitations for help and move beyond tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide.
• Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe.
• Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to help with for further suicide-safer help.

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 3 hours of credit by ND Board of Social Work, ND EMS, and ND POST.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day workshop designed for all community members. The goal is to enhance a caregiver’s ability to assist a person at risk of suicide. ASIST enhances skills to intervene until either the immediate risk of suicide is reduced, or additional life-assistance resources can be found.

Training Objectives

Participants will learn to:

• Understand the way personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions.
• Provide guidance and suicide first-aid to a person at risk in ways that meet their individual safety needs.
• Identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it.
• Recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care.

CEU Credit

• Approved by the ND Board of Social Work to offer:
  • 12 hours + 1 Ethics hour to licensed social workers
  • 13 hours of credit extended to nursing and certified peer support professionals
• Approved to offer 12 hours of credit by ND EMS.
• Approved to offer 14 hours of credit by ND POST.

Mental Health First Aid is an interactive 8-hour course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health challenge or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Training Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will:

• Be able to identify common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
• Learn to interact with a person in crisis.
• Understand and be able to utilize the ALGEE action plan: Assess for risk, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
• Be able to connect a person in need with appropriate help.

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 8 hours of credit by ND Board of Social Work, ND EMS, and ND POST.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an interactive 6.5-hour course that teaches adults how to help a young person who is developing a mental health challenge or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps participants distinguish symptoms of a mental health challenge from typical adolescent behaviors, and to understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Training Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will:

• Be able to identify common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.
• Learn to interact with a young person in crisis.
• Understand and be able to utilize the ALGEE action plan: Assess for risk, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
• Be able to connect a young person in need with appropriate help.

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 8 hours of credit by ND Board of Social Work, ND EMS, and ND POST.

Mental Health Awareness may be offered in-person or virtually, for 1 or 4 hours. In the 1-hour format, participants will become familiar with signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as warning signs for suicide. In the 4-hour format, additional topics such as substance use and psychosis are covered.

Mental Health Awareness also provides a basic awareness of suicide and how to offer support to someone who may be at risk for suicide. The 4-hour format teaches participants to deploy the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).

Training Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will:

• Receive brief overview of common mental illnesses.
• Learn an action plan of how to assist someone who may be experiencing a mental health challenge.
• Be able to identify the importance of self-care.

CEU Credit

• Approved to offer 1-4 hours of credit by ND Board of Social Work.