When a neighbor’s tractor gets stuck, you don’t hesitate to help. But when you see a family member, friend, or client stuck in a rut—and possibly suicidal—it can be daunting to try and help and can leave you feeling powerless. Suicide is a significant public health issue in Minnesota. It involves the tragic loss of human life and causes agonizing grief, fear, and confusion in families and communities. The impact can even extend across generations.

This training focuses teaches in-depth skills you can learn in half a day. You’ll learn how to recognize someone having thoughts of suicide, how to engage them, and how to make sure they get help. This evidence-based training is effective for people as young as 15.  All six sessions will include a unit specially designed to address the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness among farmers and farm workers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Farmers, lenders, mediators, agency staff, clergy, educators, veterinarians, health care and social service providers, agricultural advisors, businesspeople, and anyone else who interacts with people who farm.

REGISTER AT: http://safeTALK-agriculture.eventbrite.com

This training is free. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment at each location is limited to 30.

2019 DATES

October 10, Thief River Falls, Northland Community & Technical College

October 11, Moorhead, MERIT Center

November 20, Faribault, South Central College

November 21, Austin, Riverland Community College

December 3, Marshall, Southwest MN State University

December 4, Waite Park, Minnesota State Quarry Center

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This training challenges attitudes that inhibit open talk about suicide and will teach you to:

• Recognize a person who might be having thoughts of suicide

• Learn how to address stigma associated with suicide and mental illness.

• Engage people at risk of suicide in direct and open talk about it.
• Listen to their feelings about suicide to show that they are taken seriously.
• Move quickly to connect the at-risk with someone trained in suicide intervention.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Chaplain (Colonel-Retired) Glen Bloomstrom is the Military Representative and Faith Community Liaison for LivingWorks Education, an international suicide intervention training company. He is also an adjunct professor at Bethlehem Seminary in Minneapolis. Glen served on active duty as a US Army chaplain for 30 years. His expertise includes suicide prevention, pastoral counseling, and military deployment. He is a member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and serves on the Faith Communities Task Force.

FAQ

I’ve been to a QPR suicide prevention workshop. Should I attend safeTalk? QPR  (Question, Persuade, and Refer), is a 1-hour introductory-level training that increases awareness about suicide. safeTALK is a more in-depth and comprehensive training that offers both education and experiential learning. safeTALK also addresses the stigma issues related to suicide and mental health. (If you are interested in QPR, contact NAMI Minnesota, which is offering the program in rural communities.)

Are CEUs available? We will provide you with a certificate of attendance that you can use to self-certify with your licensing board or organization.

Who do I contact about disability accommodation? Call Stephen at 651-201-6012 or via TTY at 711 at least one week before the session you want to attend.

This workshop is supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2018-38640-28416 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC18-170. The State of Minnesota and USDA are equal opportunity employers and service providers. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this workshop do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event please contact Stephen Moser at 651-201-6012 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 at least one week prior to the session you want to attend.