Firearm Suicide Prevention
Firearm Suicide Prevention Videos
Through our Christian County Suicide Prevention Network, we partnered with CoxHealth Injury Prevention and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to create videos showing how to safely store a variety of firearms. Storing firearms unloaded and locked with ammo stored separately, but there are a variety of storage methods that can secure firearms providing varying levels of protection and safety.
IF YOU ARE IN A CRISIS OR NEED SUPPORT CALL 988
If you, or someone you care about, are thinking about suicide, are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org/chat.
The 988 Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. When you reach out to 988, you will be connected to a trained crisis specialist who will listen, offer support, and connect you to services and resources.
Home Safety Kits
Want to practice safe firearm storage at your home but don’t have a cable lock? Home Safety Kits are free and available for any community member as capacity allows. These kits include a medication/firearm lock box, firearm cable lock, safe medication disposal bags, and educational materials on suicide prevention and substance use prevention. Click the link to sign up and be matched with a location to pick up your kit!
Learn the Warning Signs -- Upcoming Trainings
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a public education program which introduces participants to unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and most importantly – teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. YMHFA is an 8-hour course which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. Anyone who regularly works or interacts with youth – teachers, athletic coaches, mentors, juvenile justice professionals and others – may find the course content useful.
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
Adult Mental Health First Aid is a public education program which introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adults, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Adult Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course, which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The program also teaches about risk factors and warning signs of illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addictions. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like “What Do I Do?” and “Where Can Someone Find Help?” Instructors compile and provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support.
First Aider Forums
The YMHSP is partnering with local organizations to offer additional in-depth trainings about specific mental health challenges and mental health resources to area First Aiders through lunch-and-learn forums and the annual First Aider Summit, an all-day conference aimed at arming certified adults with the tools they need to feel more confident when interacting with youth in need of help.
Want More Information and Resources on Suicide Prevention?
Learn more about our work on suicide prevention and mental health through our mental health page. Here you will find helpful information on trainings like Mental Health First Aid and others. Click the button below to learn more.