Did you know that:

• The suicide rate for first responders is considerably higher than the general population.

•  Police and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

• New York State has some of the highest numbers of first responder suicides in the nation.

• Yet, first responders don't feel comfortable seeking help, and often feel misunderstood by well-meaning mental health professionals.

• Despite this urgent need, few mental health professionals are equipped to work effectively with this population.

• This foundational training addresses that gap by providing essential insights into first responder culture, challenges and treatment considerations as they relate to suicide prevention.

This training incorporates authentic scenarios, interactive exercises, and videos of expert first responders describing their experiences to make this important topic come alive for the learner. It is provided in five chapters and will take about 60 minutes to complete. The chapters are: (1) Understanding the work of first responders, (2) Risk and protective factors, (3) Barriers to care, (4) Recognition and assessment of suicidal ideation, and (5) Strategies for immediate intervention and ongoing care.

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Identify unique elements of first responder culture,
• Recognize risk and protective factors and barriers to care related to first responder suicide, and
• Recognize key strategies for helping first responders experiencing suicidal ideation.

This course provides 1 self-study contact hour of Social Work, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nursing, and CASAC/CPP/CPS Continuing Education and is an enduring material available for a maximum of 1 hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME). 

To access this training:

• Log into the Learning Community using your username and password at: https://rfmh.csod.com/client/rfmh/default.aspx
• Enter “First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness” into the Search box
• Click on the module to begin