Marshfield Clinic Offers Free Online Suicide Prevention Training

Marshfield Clinic is scheduled to offer two free online suicide prevention training sessions on Sept. 14 and Sept. 17, according to a press release reported by WSAW. The initiative targets rural communities, first responders, veterans, and healthcare providers to equip participants with practical crisis intervention skills.

Organized by the clinic’s Veterans Care Coordinator and the Military and Veterans Employee Resource Group in collaboration with the AgriSafe Network, Inc., the sessions address mental health needs in agricultural and rural areas. Bryan Weichelt, Ph.D., a research scientist and past chair of the Marshfield Clinic Military and Veterans Employee Resource Group, stated in the release that suicide prevention training empowers community members to recognize warning signs, start difficult conversations, and connect individuals with life-saving support.

QPR Training Session for Rural First Responders

The first session focuses on Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) methodology and is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m., as reported by WSAW. The 1.5-hour workshop is timed to accommodate rural fire and emergency medical services drill nights.

Targeted attendees include rural firefighters, emergency medical services professionals, veterans, and local community partners. Noah Hopkins, a population health scientist, and Tara Haskins, the total farmer health director for the AgriSafe Network, are scheduled to facilitate the workshop. Participants will learn how to identify signs of mental health distress, respond to individuals in crisis, and navigate available support resources. Registration is available through the designated Zoom registration link.

CALM Training for Healthcare Providers

A second virtual session covering Conversations on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) is set for Sept. 17 at 5:00 p.m., according to WSAW. This four-hour workshop is designed for mental health clinicians, primary care providers, substance use counselors, hotline responders, and crisis professionals.

Tara Haskins and Olivia Bury, a behavioral health coordinator and licensed professional counselor, will lead the session. The curriculum concentrates on collaborative safety planning, implementing safe storage practices for lethal means, and strengthening clinical counseling skills through guided practice. Interested professionals can sign up using the provided Zoom registration link.

Statewide Context and Strategic Health Plans

These virtual offerings align with the statewide Injury and Violence Prevention Strategic Plan launched by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The strategic plan aims to reduce injuries, experiences of violence, and violent deaths across the state, including suicide.