What is Suicide Intervention Training?
Suicide Intervention & Prevention Training: A Growing Need
As suicide rates continue to rise, it’s clear that immediate action is needed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 10 people in the U.S. have contemplated suicide since 2020. Among teenagers, the statistics are even more heartbreaking: 1 in 5 teens have considered taking their own life. These numbers reflect a growing crisis that impacts families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
At Stop Suicide USA, we believe that suicide intervention training is one of the most powerful ways to combat this crisis and save lives. Our training programs give individuals, communities, and first responders the tools they need to confidently step in during a crisis and provide life-saving support.
What is Suicide Intervention Training?
Suicide intervention training is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and respond to individuals in crisis. The goal is to intervene to prevent suicide before it’s too late, providing immediate help and support to someone considering suicide.
Our training focuses on:
Recognizing the Signs of Suicide: Learn how to identify early warning signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Effective Communication: Gain tools to communicate compassionately and effectively with someone who may be contemplating suicide.
Crisis Response: Understand how to de-escalate a crisis situation and provide the individual with the resources they need to seek further help.
Connecting to Suicide Prevention Resources: Learn how to connect individuals in crisis with professional services, such as the 988 Lifeline, local counseling services, and other mental health resources.
This training is invaluable for anyone—whether you’re a teacher, parent, healthcare professional, or first responder.
Schedule a training
Contact us to learn more about the Intervene Challenge, or how we can help you or your organization schedule a training.
How We Help: Intervention Training Programs for Communities and First Responders
At Stop Suicide USA, we’ve made it our mission to bring suicide intervention training to communities across the nation. We work with fire departments, law enforcement, schools, and local organizations to ensure that those on the front lines of crisis situations are fully prepared to help someone in distress.
In January 2024, we trained all fire and law enforcement personnel in a community just north of Atlanta. Of the 103 participants, only 5% had previously completed suicide intervention training. After the program, participants reported feeling more confident in their ability to respond to suicide-related calls. This is just one example of how critical training can make a life-saving difference.
Why First Responders Need Suicide Intervention Training
First Responders are often the first to arrive at the scene of a crisis, making their training in suicide intervention crucial. Unfortunately, not all responders are equipped with the skills needed to handle suicide-related situations.
Programs like Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training teach first responders how to engage with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, providing them with the tools to de-escalate situations and offer compassionate support. This training not only increases the chances of saving a life, but also reduces the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide.
Our organization provides specialized training to ensure that first responders are prepared to:
Recognize the warning signs of suicide.
Use de-escalation techniques to safely intervene in a crisis.
Refer individuals to appropriate resources for ongoing support.
The Strain on Healthcare and Emergency Services
Our healthcare system is facing immense pressure. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, clinicians are overwhelmed, and there are not enough beds to accommodate all patients. The situation is no different for first responders, who are seeing increased response times across the country. In some cities, these response times have doubled or even tripled in recent years, making quick, effective interventions even more critical.
In New Orleans, for example, average response times jumped from 51 minutes in 2019 to 146 minutes in 2023. When time is critical, trained first responders can be the difference between life and death. That’s why Stop Suicide USA works tirelessly to ensure first responders are equipped with the training they need to handle suicide crises quickly and effectively.
How You Can Get Involved in Suicide Prevention: Building a Network of Care
Preventing suicide takes more than just trained professionals. It requires a community effort where everyone plays a part. At Stop Suicide USA, we offer suicide intervention training and events to help build networks of care within communities. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or concerned neighbor, you can be part of the solution.
Our training programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each community, focusing on practical, actionable steps that can be taken to save lives. By working together, we can build a support system that helps reduce the risk of suicide and provides individuals in crisis with the care they need.
Contact us today to schedule the Intervene Challenge for your community!
The Stop Suicide USA Intervene Challenge: Equipping Communities to Save Lives
At Stop Suicide USA, our mission is simple but vital: we train people to save lives. Through our Intervene Challenge, we have empowered more than 29,000 individuals from all walks of life to recognize the signs of suicide and intervene when it matters most. We call it the Intervene Challenge because, quite frankly, it’s a challenge. But it’s one that can make the difference between life and death.
What is the Intervene Challenge?
Our challenge is to raise awareness that suicide intervention training for everyone—not just mental health professionals—is the key to reducing suicide. We ask you to take on your own challenge: to step up and say, “I will be the one who makes a difference in someone’s life when they’re in crisis.”
For many, this challenge is deeply personal. Many participants join our training because they have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide. They want to make sure they’re prepared to help others who might be struggling. And they know firsthand the importance of having the right tools and knowledge in these critical moments.
Proven Success with the Listen Learn Lead® Suicide Intervention Curriculum
At the heart of the Intervene Challenge is our proprietary Listen Learn Lead® Suicide Intervention curriculum—a world-class, three-tiered model designed to equip participants with practical skills to help those in crisis. Built on five core values, this model has been used successfully in more than 2,000 suicide interventions, demonstrating its power to save lives.
Our training is more than just information; it’s an interactive, hands-on experience. In just four to five hours, participants are immersed in a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Case studies that provide real-world examples.
• Discussions and role-playing to practice interventions.
• Video lessons that offer insight into crisis situations.
• Personal testimonies that connect participants to the real emotional impact of suicide.
• Simulation exercises to build confidence in responding to actual crises.
The goal is simple: to ensure that when the moment comes, you know how to listen, learn, and lead the conversation that could save a life.
Participants Appreciate the Suicide Intervention Challenge.
A survey of our most recent 1,000 participants revealed:
98% rated the Listen Learn Lead model as EXCELLENT
100% would recommend the training to others
94% are now more likely to intervene when needed
6% were mental health professionals who regularly intervene
53% have conducted an intervention since taking the training
Please join our mission to build resilience and reduce the risk for those most at risk in your community. Together we can be a beacon of hope to guide those who are hurting to safe harbor.
Contact us today to learn more.
Who Can Take the Intervene Challenge?
Our suicide intervention training is open to everyone aged 18 and older. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a first responder, or someone who simply wants to make a difference, this training is for you. We emphasize that everyone in the community—from little league coaches and teachers to grandparents concerned about a loved one—can play a crucial role in suicide prevention.
In fact, the Intervene Challenge is also approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for mental health professionals, law enforcement, and attorneys, helping those in critical professions stay at the top of their game when it comes to crisis intervention.
But this training isn’t just for professionals. It’s for anyone willing to learn the skills to recognize the warning signs and take action. Because in moments of crisis, anyone can be the one to make a difference.
Rally Your Community: Sponsor a Training
One of the most powerful ways to impact your community is to sponsor a suicide intervention training event. We encourage individuals, groups, and organizations to take the lead by organizing a training session in their area. Through the Intervene Challenge, we’ve partnered with a wide range of organizations, including:
Schools and universities to equip educators and students.
Faith-based groups to support their communities in times of need.
Civic organizations and local governments to build a network of care.
Military units to address the unique challenges faced by service members.
More than 500 law enforcement agencies to ensure first responders are trained and ready.
When a community comes together to learn, they create a network of care that is stronger, more connected, and better equipped to prevent suicide.
Be the Difference
Taking the Intervene Challenge is more than just attending a training session—it’s making a commitment to your community, to your loved ones, and to yourself. It’s about being prepared to act in a crisis, knowing that your intervention can save a life.
Whether you’re an individual looking to get involved or a community leader ready to rally your group, Stop Suicide USA is here to guide you every step of the way. Together, we can build stronger, more compassionate communities where fewer lives are lost to suicide.
The Suicide Intervention Challenge
Primary Enabling Course Objective:
Participants will gain the skills and confidence to render aid to individuals at risk of suicide, utilizing the three-tier Listen Learn Lead model of suicide intervention and prevention.
FIRST HOUR
Increase personal awareness of the community impact of suicide
Understand the importance of developing a culture of community health
Gain insight into the questions asked in each phase of the L3 model
SECOND HOUR
Recognize the steps to transition through the L3 model
Understand the importance of building rapport that enables a successful intervention
Identify the steps in transitioning to safety
THIRD HOUR
Discuss fears that impede a willingness to intervene
Evaluate the myths that impact societal and helper responses to suicide
Examine cultural differences that challenge the ability to intervene
Demonstrate intervention skills through roleplay and simulation exercises
FOURTH HOUR
Apply learning to better understand potential risk
Summarize various community resources for further assistance if needed
Q & A