safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness. It helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training—anyone age 15 or older who wants to make a difference can learn the safeTALK steps.

How safeTALK works

Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t want to die—instead, they are looking for a way to work through the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they usually invite others to help them in making a choice for life. safeTALK teaches participants to recognize these invitations, engage with the person with thoughts of suicide, and connect them with resources to help them be safer from suicide. These resources could include health care professionals, first responders, or crisis line workers—among many others who have suicide intervention training.

Training process

safeTALK features both presentations and interactive elements. Trainers will facilitate participants’ involvement through: • Trainer presentations

• Diverse selection of audiovisuals
• Interactive discussion and questions
• TALK steps practice
• TALK wallet card
• “You can TALK to Me” stickers

Goals and objectives

safeTALK helps participants become alert to suicide. Suicide-alert people are better prepared to connect persons with thoughts of suicide with life-affirming help. Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:

• Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts may be present,
• Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked,
• Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide,
• Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe, and
• Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further suicide-safer help.

A very special thank you to BDO Guelph and the Kate and Margot Fund for their financial support which made it possible for CWCF to bring this important workshop to Centre Wellington.