Hospice of Hilo will host a safeTALK suicide prevention training class sponsored by the state Department of Health from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 30 at the organization’s Community Building, 1011 Waianuenue Ave. ADVERTISING Hospice of Hilo will host a safeTALK suicide
Hospice of Hilo will host a safeTALK suicide prevention training class sponsored by the state Department of Health from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 30 at the organization’s Community Building, 1011 Waianuenue Ave.
The half-day workshop will prepare participants to recognize and support a person with thoughts of suicide. Attendees will become safeTALK-trained suicide alert helpers, which will allow them to move beyond the common tendency to dismiss or avoid talking about suicide.
The training also will provide instruction in how to properly connect a person with thoughts of suicide to first-aid and intervention caregivers. A certified safeTALK instructor, with the support of Hospice spiritual counselor Rebekah Bernard, will facilitate the workshop.
Suicide was the most common cause of fatal injuries among Hawaii residents during the five-year period 2010-14, accounting for more than one-fourth (908, or 26 percent) of all fatal injuries, according to Department of Health data. Suicide also was the leading cause of injury-related death for most age groups — all but the very young and the very old — outpacing car crashes, homicide, unintentional poisoning and drowning. Health data estimates one person dies by suicide in Hawaii every two days.
The training is free, however pre-registration and sign-up are mandatory. RSVP no later than Sept. 28 by contacting volunteer manager Jeanette Mochida at 969-1733 or jeanettem@hospiceofhilo.org.
