RTS/C Responding to Suicide with Compassion
Program Description:
Nationally, 1 in 5 youth and 1 in 25 adults have thoughts of suicide. In Illinois, nearly 1500 people die of suicide each year, including over 130 youth. Family, friends, and professionals in the position to intervene may be limited in their understanding of suicide and may not feel comfortable or competent to provide support.
RTS/C will address these issues using strategies guided by compassion, cultural awareness, and centering the needs of those experiencing suicide. Participants will learn the scope and impacts of suicide, and risk and protective factors for suicide, including discussions of high-risk populations (youth, LGBTQ+, veterans). Participants will gain skills in asking and talking about suicide, risk screening, means safety, safety planning, connecting to services, and documentation. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, demonstration, and guided practice.
RTS/C is appropriate for anyone age 17 and older, including parents, college students, teachers and school staff, social workers, social service providers, coaches, mentors, and clergy.
Learning Objectives:
1. Increase understanding of suicide to develop compassion for people experiencing suicide.
2. Develop confidence to talk about suicide and provide support to people experiencing suicide.
3. Develop skills to intervene and prevent suicide.
Presenter:
Kim is a suicidologist providing community-based suicide prevention services. She has a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology and completed graduate study in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Following the suicide of her 19-year-old son, she left graduate school and founded Rattle the Stars to provide suicide prevention services to families, schools, and the community. Kim is a member of the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, serving on the Adolescent Suicide Prevention Ad Hoc Committee, and a member of the American Association of Suicidology, serving on the Youth Suicide Prevention Committee and the Public Health-School/Education Committee.
