LivingWorks safeTALK

How to access this program?

Contact your Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) for available trainings. You can also visit https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-safetalk/ to review available training options.

What is the program? 

Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK) (2007), designed by LivingWorks Education, is a half-day workshop (up to 4 hours) gatekeeper training, that trains community members to recognize people with thoughts of suicide and connect them to intervention resources. LivingWorks safeTALK participants learn to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to an intervention provider, such as a LivingWorks ASIST participant and/or a mental health professional, counselor, safety officer, crisis line worker or many others. In this way, LivingWorks safeTALK participants build a safety network around these intervention providers and greatly increase their reach and impact. 

Who is the program for? 

This program is used by students, teachers, community volunteers, first responders, military personnel, police, public and private employees, and professional athletes – among many others. The training is offered to anyone over the age of 15. 

What outcomes does the program produce? 

• Increase in awareness of suicide warning signs 
• Increase in awareness of resources for help related to suicide risk 
• Increase in student referrals for suicide concern 
• Improve skills, knowledge, and attitudes for suicide prevention 

What is the evidence or research that supports the program? 

Bailey, E., Spittal, M. J., Pirkis, J., Gould, M., & Robinson, J. (2017). Universal Suicide Prevention in Young People. Crisis, 38(5), 300–308. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000465  

This research was designed to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of the safeTALK program for secondary school students and determine whether it is associated with any iatrogenic or negative suicide promotion effects. Findings indicated that high school participants attending a safeTALK training demonstrated increases in knowledge about suicide, confidence in talking about issues related to suicide, willingness to talk about suicide, and likelihood of seeking help for suicidal thoughts. There was no evidence that the training induced suicidal thoughts or caused distress; in fact, both appeared to decrease following the training. Most participants did not find the training upsetting; they reported the training to be worthwhile and most said that they would recommend it to a friend. The authors concluded that universal suicide prevention workshops in schools can be beneficial and do not appear to be associated with negative effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). 

Madden, J. (2015). A participant’s review of the experience and learning from participating in the SafeTALK Course (Doctoral dissertation).https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/2575 

The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience and learning from participating in the safeTALK course by investigating the perceived knowledge and attitude towards those who engage in suicidal ideation before and after completion of the safeTALK course; explore the perceived skill of participants in dealing with a person with suicidal ideation before and after course completion; and investigate any perceived strengths and limitations from the point of view of course participants. The study found that participants experienced a number of substantiative changes in attitudes and knowledge of suicide and suicide prevention; reported a greater perceived awareness of the signs of suicidal ideation in people; conveyed that after the course they believe that open and direct discussion about suicide with a person would not do harm; noted an increased in perceived comfort and confidence in dealing with a person with thoughts of suicide; and reported an significant increase (90%) perceived themselves as having the confidence to deal with a person with thoughts of suicide compared to 94% feeling unconfident prior to completing the safeTALK course. 

How is the program implemented? 

A skilled, supportive trainer will guide participants through the 4 hour training course, and a community resource will be on hand to support participant safety and comfort during the training course. By carrying out the TALK steps taught in safeTALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) a suicide alert helper offers potentially life-saving assistance to someone experiencing suicide. At a LivingWorks safeTALK workshop, participants will learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support. 

Each safeTALK participant receives a wallet card reminder of the TALK steps, two reusable stickers identifying the participant’s willingness and ability to help, a 24-page resource book and a certificate. 

Who can implement the program? 

The safeTALK program can be used by students (age 15 and above), teachers, community volunteers, first responders, any school-based employee, parents, and any others interested in increasing community awareness of suicide prevention. 

What are the costs and commitments associated with becoming trained in this program? 

Please contact the program for the most recent costs and commitments, as these may change. 

Most safeTALK Instructors in Texas are Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) staff, interested parties should contact the LMHA in the school district’s area to find free training. If a trainer is sought outside of the LMHA, the (1/2 day) training session of safeTALK may cost up to $300 per trainer and materials may cost $6.50 to $7.50 per resource packet (depending on volume). Trainers can be found on their training registry at: HERE. 

What resources are useful for understanding or implementing the program? 

• Find out more information at Livingworks website: https://www.livingworks.net/safetalk 
• Find your Local Mental Health Authority here: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/find-your-local-mental-health-or-behavioral-health-authority  

Any training or interventions from this repository should be used in accordance with established staff development standards and adopted professional development policies of the Local Education Agency (LEA) per §21.451 and §21.4515 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) and the LEA’s suicide prevention policies and procedures pursuant to §38.351. While this training satisfies the statutory training requirements of §21.451(d)(3)(A), §21.451 (d-1)(1), §21.451 (d-2) and §38.351, it is best practice for staff to receive ongoing training which may include job embedded professional development, coaching opportunities and annual training. 

Rating: Research-Informed

Secondary components: Grief and Trauma-Informed Practices; Positive, Safe, and Supportive School Climates; Early Mental Health Prevention and Intervention