Webinar

Words Matter: How to Safely Communicate About Suicide

View On Demand (Recorded November 21, 2019)

Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7. Please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by sending ‘HOME’ to 741741.

The public safety sector—including fire service, law enforcement, EMS and corrections—has made significant gains in raising awareness around suicide among first responders. But did you know that sometimes the very messages used to promote awareness can cause harm and undermine suicide prevention efforts?

Fortunately, there is a safe way to talk about suicide. Public safety professionals of all ranks and positions can learn to convey messages of hope and resiliency and promote positive, help-seeking behaviors.

This webinar, brought to you by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Lexipol, will share actionable steps public safety professionals can take to create honest, empathetic, effective messages that support departmental prevention efforts and focus on solutions. A significant portion of the webinar will be set aside for audience Q&A.

You’ll Learn:

  • The importance of first developing a strategy for your communication efforts
  • The need to move from “messaging for awareness” to “messaging for action”
  • How to avoid messages that can increase the risk someone will take their own life
  • How to create messages that convey help is available and recovery is possible

Presented by:

 

Billy Goldfeder
Deputy Chief
Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department

Erin Oehler, JD
Associate Project Director
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

John Morrissey
Chief (ret.)
Kenosha (WI) Police Department 
Lead, Action Alliance Public Safety Task Force 
 

CAPT Scott Salvatore, Psy.D.
Lead, Psychological Health
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Chief
Human Capital Officer

Victor Stagnaro
Managing Director
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Member, Action Alliance Public Safety Task Force

  

Register now