Mental Health / Suicide Prevention Trainings

Every Oredigger placardAs part of the Every Oredigger Initiative, Colorado School of Mines is working to establish and maintain a strong stratified campus support network of students, faculty, and staff knowledgeable about mental health and suicide and able to respond effectively to those who need help.

This tiered network includes a broad base of faculty, staff and students who are trained in resilience and active listening, as well as recognizing warning signs and becoming familiar with campus and community resources. A smaller subset of individuals on campus are trained in intervention and safety planning.

Orediggers who attend trainings that prepare them to assist someone who may be dealing with a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide will be given a green placard to hang up in or near their office or desk. This placard is a sign to students, faculty and staff that they are a safe person who cares and can connect those in need to appropriate resources. It also indicates that they are an advocate for mental health and well-being on campus.

Spring 2024 Training Schedule

TrainingDate & TimeLocation
QPR for Faculty & Staff
(Lunch Provided)
Tues, Jan 30th, 12-2pmGreen Center 224
Suicide Prevention Refresher
(Breakfast Provided)
Tues, Feb 6th, 9-10amBallroom A
Student Center
QPR for Students
(Dinner provided)
Mon, Feb 12th, 4-6pmGreen Center 224
QPR for Students
(Dinner Provided)
Mon, March 4th, 4-6pmGreen Center 224
QPR for Faculty & Staff
(Lunch Provided)
Wed, March 6th, 12-2pmGreen Center 224
QPR for Students
(Dinner Provided)
Thur, April 4th, 4-6pmGreen Center 224
QPR for Faculty & Staff
(Lunch Provided)
Thur, April 11th, 12-2pmGreen Center 224
Mental Health First Aid for Students
(Lunch Provided)
Sat, April 20th, 8:30am-5pmBallroom D
To schedule a QPR Training or other suicide prevention training for your group, organization, or department, please contact Bryttani Watson (bryttaniwatson@mines.edu).

Training Descriptions

ASIST

The ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills Workshop is for people who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. During this two-day, highly interactive, practical and practice-oriented workshop, ASIST teaches trainees to provide skilled intervention and develop a collaborative safety plan to keep someone safe and alive.

Who should attend ASIST? The Every Oredigger team would like at least one person from each academic and administrative department to be ASIST trained, in addition to those who are interested in being trained in these more in-depth intervention skills. Attendees should be retrained every 3 years. Attendees must be present for the entire training, which consists of two full days.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

After this training, you will be able to:

  • Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
  • Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
  • Understand how to interact with a person in crisis.
  • Know how to connect a person with help.
  • Use self-care tools and techniques.

Who should attend MHFA? MHFA is for anyone who would like to learn and develop skills to assist individuals in their community who might be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health challenge and/or crisis. Attendees should be retrained every 3 years. Attendees must be present for the entire training, which consists of one full day. Blended and virtual options also available. 

Questions? Looking to request a MHFA training for your club, organization or department? Contact Katey Parsons at kateyparsons@mines.edu. 

Men’s Mental Health Seminar

Men’s mental health has been described as a silent crisis. This lunch seminar will explore causes, men’s unique mental health needs, and offer connections to resources. It will also include a discussion of men’s mental health in the Mines community.

Onboarding for Faculty and Staff

The Every Oredigger program and community mental health resources will be introduced in the electronic onboarding system. Mental health programs and resources will be presented during the monthly in-person orientation sessions.

QPR

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer—3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Those who attend this two-hour training will learn to:

  • Recognize the warning signs of suicide
  • Know how to offer hope
  • Know how to get help and save a life

Who should attend QPR? Every Oredigger, whether student, faculty, or staff! QPR provides a basic introduction about suicide prevention and how to get someone to help. Mines will hold periodic all-campus trainings that anyone can attend, and departments/student organizations can request separate QPR trainings for their own group. Attendees should be retrained every 3 years.

Questions? Looking to request a QPR training for your club, organization or department? Contact Bryttani Watson at bryttaniwatson@mines.edu

Resilience Trainings for Students

Learn how to build resilience in order to thrive at Mines! Resilient people are more likely to:

  • Succeed in the day-to-day demands of school, work, and relationships
  • Bravely meet challenges and obstacles and stay strong through them
  • Know when to ask for help and support when they need it
  • Know how to keep themselves in good shape by resting and getting what they need in order to be their best self
  • Develop and sustain positive relationships built on trust & mutual respect
  • Have a sense of purpose and goals for the future

Who should attend a Resilience Training? Every student! Trainings will take approximately one hour and are available for student organizations by request. These are provided in partnership with the Peer Education Program.

Questions? Looking to request a Resilience training for your student club, organization or department? Contact the Peer Education Program at PeerEducation@mines.edu.

Resilience Trainings for Faculty and Staff

Many of us work in constantly connected, always-on, highly demanding work cultures where stress and the risk of burnout are widespread. Since the pace and intensity of contemporary work culture are not likely to change, it’s more important than ever to build resilience skills to effectively navigate your work life. Factors that lead to resilience include optimism; the ability to stay balanced and manage strong or difficult emotions; a sense of safety and a strong social support system. The good news is that, because there is a concrete set of behaviors and skills associated with resilience, you can learn to be more resilient.

Suicide Prevention Training Refresher

The one-hour refresher is intended for Mines faculty, staff, and students who have already attended QPR, SafeTalk, ASIST, or Mental Health First Aid. The purpose of this training is to:

  • Review warning signs and steps to take if you are concerned about a student or colleague
  • Practice the skills you’ve learned through role plays
  • Build a support community among Mines students, faculty, and staff who are trained
  • Show appreciation for committing to step in and save a life!

Who should attend the Refresher? Anyone who has already attended another suicide prevention training and wants to review or practice the skills they learned.