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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Suicide Prevention Trainings, Events, Resources and Related News in the Northern Virginia region
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Upcoming Suicide Prevention Events | | |
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AFSP Out of the Darkness Walks
SPAN is excited to be a sponsor for the local upcoming AFSP Out of Darkness Walks. These walks provide an opportunity for friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers to walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those lost. These community walks provide an opportunity to acknowledge how suicide and mental health have affected our lives and the lives of those around us. Each walk event includes activities and resources to provide hope and further promote suicide prevention.
Upcoming walk events:
- Sunday, 9/10/23 Manassas & Prince William Walk
- Saturday, 9/16/23 Loudoun Walk
- Sunday, 10/1/23 Fairfax Walk
Visit AFSP Out of the Darkness to ;learn more about a walk event near you.
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Join SPAN For a Virtual Presentation
Ask. Talk. Connect.
Monday, 9/18/23, 6-7:30pm
Join SPAN for a virtual presentation on how to Ask. Talk. Connect. to help save a life.
This presentation will cover the following:
- Ask: How are you doing? Are you thinking about suicide? How can I help?
- Talk: Support them in person or on the phone. Follow up once they are safe.
- Connect: Call 988 to help them find support and talk with a trained counselor.
- Learn more about what resources are available around the Northern Virginia region.
Register HERE.
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Suicide Prevention Training Opportunities | |
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QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – the 3 simple yet powerful steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR can be learned in a free, 60-minute virtual training course. Anyone age 16 and over is encouraged to take QPR training - parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, police officers, volunteer coaches, youth organization leaders, caseworkers, firefighters, and anyone who might be strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.
Sign up for an upcoming QPR training here:
- September 7, 10am-11:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 7, 3pm-4:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 10, 9am-10:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 12, 6pm-7:30pm, Virtual (Spanish), Register HERE
- September 12, 7pm-8:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 13, 6pm-7:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 16, 9am-10:30am,Virtual, Register HERE
- September 18, 7pm-8:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 22,10am-11:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
- September 26, 1pm-2:30pm, Virtual, Register HERE
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Additional Suicide Prevention Trainings Available
In addition to the valuable trainings listed above, each local CSB may have additional suicide prevention and mental health related training opportunities available. Contact your local CSB today for more information!
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Find Help At Your Local CSB | |
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Each community has a Community Services Board (CSB), the public agency that provides services for people who have a mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. CSBs also provide Wellness and Prevention initiatives, including trainings such as ACE Interface (Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resiliency), Mental Health First Aid, REVIVE, and suicide prevention. They also can provide or connect you to resources such as locking medication boxes and drug disposal bags.
To get services, get trained, and learn more, connect with your local CSB.
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Community Partner Highlight | |
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ConnerStrong Foundation works to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention and to change the discussion about mental health, especially in our teens and young adults. The foundation also provides outreach and comfort to the families and communities affected by mental health and suicide.
The You Are Not Alone 5k Fun Run, sponsored by ConnerStrong Foundation, Supervisor Rodney Lusk (Franconia District, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors & Celebrate Fairfax took place at the Kingstowne Shopping Center and raised $4000 and 600lbs of food for 2 nonprofits in the Franconia District, Koinonia and United Community. 265 runners signed up and 170 showed up despite the bad weather. 8 nonprofits had tables with information on mental health and suicide prevention. In 2024 the You Are Not Alone 5k Fun Run will take place on March 23 at the Kingstowne Shopping Center.
On June 5, 2023 the ConnerStrong Foundation had its 7th annual golf tournament to raise money in order to bring the Sources of Strength program into the schools. CSF is promoting and funding two elementary school initiatives, one for northern Virginia suburban schools and the second for central Virginia rural schools. Our central Virginia effort is underway, and we have three rural counties (Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa) representing eight elementary schools committed to participating. We aim to launch the program in late August/early September 2023. The golf tournament raised close to $50,000.
CSF is now a Champion of George Mason Center for Community Mental Health’s (previously known as the Center for Psychological Services). CSF donated $20,000 over a 2-year period to CCMH which will help identify local schools that might be interested in having a Sources of Strength program through alumni attending GMU,and will develop a series of mental health topics for discussion in person and on-line, to name a few services.
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Lock Meds. Lock Guns. Talk Safety.
Lock & Talk is a statewide suicide prevention initiative that strives to promote safe care of lethal means and encourages community conversations around mental wellness.
Lock & Talk is excited to share that the redesign of the Lock &Talk website. The new website is now live and ready for you to share with your communities!
SPAN members and community partners are encouraged to visit the site, check out the pages and share out this amazing news with your community!
Visit Lock & Talk for more information and resources.
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Suicide Prevention Related Resources & Articles | |
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline fore more information and resources.
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The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project's mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ young people. Reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else.
Call, text, or chat to connect with crisis counselor who will provide information and support to young people 24/7, all year round.
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The Steve Fund
The Steve Fund is dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.
Text STEVE to 741741 and a live, trained Crisis Counselor will receive the text and respond to you quickly to provide support.
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SPAN Website
Don't forget to check out the SPAN website for upcoming events, resources, and information. Feel free to share with your community partners, family, and friends.
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