Suicide prevention in the workplace: New Skillsoft course for CU employees

The workplace is an environment where we can all work together to prevent suicide.

Experts from the Colorado School of Public Health’s (ColoradoSPH) Center for Health, Work & Environment (CHWE) have developed the Suicide Prevention in the Workplace course to help individuals recognize the warning signs and risk factors of suicide in the workplace, and how to appropriately follow up when there are concerns.

The course was created in partnership with the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center and CU Employee Services’ Learning and Development department to help equip individuals at any level of an organization including leaders, managers, faculty, staff and student workers.

Available now through Skillsoft at no cost for university employees, this one-hour, self-paced training can be completed online. At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify basic facts surrounding suicide in Colorado and the nation.
• Recognize key warning signs and risk factors of a suicide risk.
• Learn how to ask the question, listen and be supportive regarding helping those who are contemplating suicide.
• Stabilize your workplace community in the aftermath of a suicide.

The training also is offered to employers across Colorado and nationally. Said one learner, “One thing I never want to say is that I might have been able to save someone’s life if only I would have known the resources, tools, script, warning signs, etc. I am grateful to have furthered my knowledge to help prevent that from ever happening.”

David Shapiro, senior manager, programs and partnerships at CHWE, stressed the importance of the training.

“It brings the topics of mental health and suicide out of the darkness and provides easy-to-understand and practical skills on how to notice, talk and act in real-life situations,” Shapiro said. “Anyone who cares about their colleagues should take this training.”

Take the free Suicide Prevention in the Workplace course here.

Questions: Madison Crepeau, madison.crepeau@cuanschutz.edu.

Note: The content of this course discusses the sensitive and challenging topic of suicide. If this training is not appropriate for you at this time due to past or current experiences, then please access this content at a later time. If you or someone you know is needing help or support, please dial 988 via call or text.