Community Bible Church hosts vital suicide prevention training

Suicide prevention training program held at the Community Bible Church. Lisa Clavier (r)  and Denise Shea (l) were the presenters. Photo courtesy of Carol Wotring.

submitted by Carol Wotring, Community Resource Center

A critical suicide prevention training program was recently held at the Community Bible Church in Manchester, addressing an urgent local need. The safeTALK training, which stands for Suicide Awareness For Everyone (SAFE) and Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe (TALK), provided 16 participants with essential skills to recognize and respond to individuals at risk of suicide.

The March 29 event was coordinated by Colleen Sullivan with support and help from Pastor Ron Clark in response to alarming statistics showing Manchester has the highest suicide rate per capita in Washtenaw County. Recognizing this concerning trend, Sullivan took action to bring this valuable training to the community.

During the three-and-a-half hour session, participants learned to identify “invitations” — signs that someone may be considering suicide and wants to talk about it. The training emphasized the importance of direct communication, teaching attendees to ask clearly and directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Participants also learned the crucial skills of listening attentively and validating individuals’ concerns, followed by connecting them with appropriate resources to keep them safe.

The safeTALK training represents an important step in addressing suicide prevention in the Manchester area. The program cost $25 to attend, with registration fees refunded upon completion (minus a $2 processing fee). Thank you to Community Bible Church for also providing childcare during the event.

The training was provided through Kiersten’s Ride, an organization dedicated to bringing “help, hope, and healing through suicide prevention in northern lower Michigan.” Kiersten’s Ride was founded by Lisa Clavier after her daughter Kiersten died by suicide. Lisa established the organization to teach others what warning signs to look for and how to help those at risk.

Other organizations throughout the community are encouraged to consider hosting their own safeTALK training sessions as part of an ongoing effort to create a more suicide-aware community. Contact Lisa Clavier at Kiersten’s Ride at KierstensRide@outlook.com or 231-675-5047. By equipping more community members with these life-saving skills, Manchester can work toward reducing its suicide rate and supporting those in crisis.

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Suicide is preventable and help is available. Anyone in Washtenaw County can call the Community Mental Health CARES team 24/7 with any mental health questions or concerns: 734-544-3050. If you feel suicidal, call 988, text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/chat/ for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

It’s important to know the warning signs for those at risk of suicide, including: talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or having no purpose, feeling trapped or in unbearable pain or a burden to others, looking for a way to kill oneself, increasing the use of alcohol or drugs, acting anxiously, agitatedly, or recklessly, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawing or feeling isolated, showing rage or talking about seeking revenge, and displaying extreme mood swings. If someone you know shows warning signs of suicide, assume you are the only one who will reach out. Take them seriously, talk to them in private, and ask directly if they are thinking about suicide.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.