September 9, 2016 — As part of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month recognized by a resolution from Ohio Governor John Kasich, the is offering three free suicide prevention and intervention trainings to members of the community in September 2016.

"'No one would miss me if I were gone. I'm just a burden. Everyone would be better off without me.' At some point, each of us will encounter a loved one or friend who says something like this, and who is obviously feeling down," says Dr. Kathleen Kern, LCBMH Associate Director. "It's hard to know how to respond. Our trainings help people handle these interactions with confidence."

Kern also notes that while participants are learning life-saving skills at mental health trainings, they are also earning certifications or credentials for their resume or job search.

LCBMH is offering these three trainings at no cost to people ages 16 and over who live or work in Lorain County:

Elder Support Training on September 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lunch included: This training is for anyone who works with or lives with older adults or has aging parents, or for seniors concerned about their peers. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the highest suicide rate in the United States was people 85 years or older, and the second highest rate was for people between 45 and 64 years old.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification on September 20 and 21, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days: This training is for adults who work with youth or have young people in their family. It introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help a child or teen in crisis. Participants must attend both days for certification.

ASIST Certification on September 22 and 23, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days: The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is the same credential that many military officials and health workers receive, available for free in Lorain County. Participants must attend both days for certification.

To register for any of the trainings, or to read the Governor's resolution, visit lcbmh.org/september2016.

The trainings require no prior knowledge of mental health topics, and often attract community members from church communities, schools, college students in various health fields, and professional staff or volunteers from local agencies, plus parents and grandparents. Some trainings have CEUs (Continuing Education Units) available for social workers or nurses.

The Governor's resolution states that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death overall and the second leading cause of death among Americans aged 10 to 34 and that each year, Ohio loses between 1,200 and 1,500 of our citizens due to death by suicide. The resolution also states that the best way to minimize risk of suicide is to learn about risk factors, recognize warning signs and take them seriously, and know how to respond to possibly save a life.

LCBMH is the local public agency that plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates a system of services for residents with mental illness in Lorain County. A crisis hotline is available by calling 1-800-888-6161. For non-emergency appointments or information, call 440-240-7025.