3:00 to 3:30 (resource sharing and collaboration)

3:30 to 5:00 (free training)

It takes a village!  Please send local resources, flyers or updated service announcements to wendy@rccmhc.org or add them to the Bulletin Board here: https://www.rccmhc.org/community-bulletin-board  We will share resources at the meeting on September 30. 

The NEED: According to the CDC, ED visits for suspected suicide attempts were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12–17 years Feb-March 2020 versus 2019.​  Twin Cities emergency departments report an increase in pediatric patients from 2019 to 2021. For example- MHealth Fairview's emergency departments saw a 33.3% increase in youth with suicidal ideation, self injuring behavior  and symptoms of major depression. Local crisis responders and hospitals report that youth are presenting with higher acuity. MHealth Fairview reports the number of pediatric patients seen in their EDs increased 12.6% from 2019 to 2021. Of those patients, the number requiring admission increased 12.5% between 2019 and 2021. In 2021, metro area hospitals report "boarding" youth in their emergency departments for several days. Providers report a lack of inpatient beds or intensive therapy options such as crisis residential or crisis respite.

The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board has adopted criteria that should be included in all suicide prevention trainings for the purposes of renewing a teaching license. This training meets these criteria. 

Suicide prevention training should include:

1. Suicide is a serious public health problem

2. Current research on adolescent brain development

3. What research shows about suicide: a. Risk factors b. Protective factors c. Research-based warning signs for youth suicide

4. Teen suicide (myths vs. facts) a. Self-harm vs. suicidal behavior

5. Teens and mental health (normal adolescence vs. warning signs and early onset mental illness) a. Communicating with teens

6. What to do if someone is at risk (how to ask about suicide, how to respond and what to do next) a. Support circles and networks b. Treatment for teens, treatment compliance issues, issues for chronically suicidal adolescents c. Working with special populations (bullying and suicide, LGBTQ and suicide) d. Cultural considerations

7. Suicide prevention in schools (prevention, intervention, postvention and reintegration)