Making Strides to Save Lives
Photo courtesy of: Green Bay Metro Fire Department
Fire Service Suicide Prevention Training of Trainers
St. Petersburg College’s Center for Public Safety Innovation (CPSI) began focusing on firefighter suicide prevention in 2011. Reports of firefighter suicides were appearing and CPSI began to consider developing a sister program, In Harm's Way called The Fire that Burns Within for the fire service. After investigating the vulnerability, CPSI determined there was a need and worked closely with local and national subject matter experts to develop awareness training specifically for firefighter suicide prevention. CPSI developed a basic firefighter suicide awareness training that reached dozens of fire departments in the southeast and midwest. Based upon the success of these trainings and requests from other agencies, CPSI created this advanced "Fire Service Suicide Prevention Training of Trainers (TOT)" 8 hour program.
CPSI recognizes that the issue of firefighter suicide needs to be addressed and is committed to deliver firefighter suicide prevention training nationwide. In addition to the toolkit and resources found on this site, CPSI offers training through speaker’s bureau presentations at conferences and through an eight-hour course titled "The Fire that Burns Within: Fire Service Suicide Prevention."
Course Description
This course will provide suicide prevention, awareness training and intervention techniques for use among fire/rescue service personnel. This is a class on how to prevent suicide – not to prepare participants to be counselors. They should be “first responders” to their fellow officers and know how to AID LIFE – questioning, persuading, and referring a colleague to get help when needed.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the stress, pressure, and culture in fire service that can lead to suicidal ideation.
- Identify suicidal behaviors and communication.
- Develop strategies to train fire service personnel in suicide prevention.
- Recognize the importance of establishing department policy and procedures related to suicide prevention and postvention.
- Convey the importance of all of the above when providing future fire service suicide prevention training.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes fire service trainers who wish to teach suicide prevention and intervention techniques within a fire service setting. Additionally, chaplains and other fire service personnel involved in critical incident stress management teams or as peer support personnel may find the information contained in this class useful in carrying out their responsibilities.
TRAINING CALENDAR
Click here for cost effective options to bring this training to your department.
Suicide Prevention Hotline
800-273-TALK
Interested in
sponsoring
a training?
Please contact
Laura Heisler
or Mary VanHaute.
St. Petersburg College
awarded grant
to help prevent
suicide among firefighters
