Suicide Prevention Training
The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, provides several online and in-person training options at no cost to college, university, and K-12 communities within the Commonwealth.
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means
CALM workshops prepare participants to have collaborative and effective conversations about reducing access to lethal means during times of heightened suicide risk. This is an evidence-based strategy that can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies.
For: professionals, community members, and SMVF (service members, veterans, and families) individuals connected with Virginia’s higher ed and K-12 communities.
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality
CAMS is an evidence-based assessment and treatment framework for individuals suffering from serious thoughts of suicide. The foundational training provides details and resources to allow you to use the skills immediately in your clinical work, even before taking more advanced training.
For: clinicians from higher ed and K-12 counseling centers, community counselors who serve students as part of their patient population, and graduate students in mental health/clinical programs. Our licenses are only available for professionals and students in Virginia.
Postvention Workshops
Postvention is a proactive, organized response, and actions taken to support individuals and communities after a suicide has occurred. We offer postvention workshops to provide information and guidance to campus teams in developing postvention protocols as part of comprehensive suicide prevention planning.
For: Virginia higher education professionals.
PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well
Learn the foundational concepts of Posttraumatic Growth with PTG for Life: Learning to Struggle Well. This self-guided, online course is designed to teach the essential concepts of PTG. Learners will come away with a high-level understanding of PTG, and how to incorporate and practice PTG in their daily lives.
For: Military-connected students and professionals in Virginia’s higher education community.
NAMI NH Connect Suicide Prevention Training
Connect is an interactive program designed to equip school personnel with practical skills to recognize warning signs, intervene effectively, and link individuals to the right support. Grounded in a public health framework, Connect helps participants understand suicide through the lens of the individual, family, school, and broader community.
For: Virginia K-12 professionals in division-level or school-level roles.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
ASIST is the most widely used suicide intervention skills training in the US. It is a two-day intensive, interactive, and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk for suicide, intervene to prevent immediate harm, and collaboratively plan for safety. It is a foundational course for anyone who wants to learn how to talk openly and effectively with someone who is having thoughts of suicide.
Note: Due to shifts in funding, we are currently unable to provide free in-person ASIST workshops, but we are happy to help you find alternative training options. Please contact us with any questions.
safeTALK
safeTALK prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. After this 3-hour workshop, you will be better able to: (1) move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide, (2) identify people who have thoughts of suicide, and (3) connect a person with suicidal thoughts to suicide first aid or intervention caregivers.