Firearms are the most lethal means used in a suicide attempt. In fact, 90% of people who attempt suicide with a firearm will perish and two out of every three firearm-related deaths in the United States is suicide. In an effort to prevent the tragedy of suicide the Safer Homes Collaborative presents Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes - a suicide prevention training developed for all audiences. CSSH informs participants of the role they can play in preventing suicide by reducing access to lethal means, particularly firearms. Conversations for Suicide Safer homes teaches participants to identify the warning signs and risk factors for suicide and how to put time and distance between the person at risk and lethal means. Safe, responsible, and legal options for reducing access to lethal means as a way to prevent tragedy are also presented. Participants who’ve attended previous versions of this training found it offers respectful and practical tips that focus on increasing safety, and are not anti-gun, but rather anti-suicide.

Katie Ellison, MA, MS, NCC, is the project director for the Safer Homes Collaborative at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Missouri Institute for Mental Health (MIMH). The Safer Homes Collaborative is a grassroots, grant-based initiative between the suicide prevention community and gun-owning community, working together to promote the practice of safe gun storage and reducing access to lethal means as a strategy to prevent the tragedy of suicide.

Ms. Ellison holds master's degrees in psychology and professional school counseling. She spent the first ten years of her career working in youth and adult corrections. After working in Corrections, Ms. Ellison spent the next ten years working in K-12 public education; implementing youth prevention programs, particularly in school suicide prevention.

Ms. Ellison holds professional certifications to instruct several evidence-based, mental health and suicide prevention curriculums, including, Construction Working Minds, Question, Persuade, Refer; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training; Counseling on Access to Lethal Means, Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes, and Mental Health First Aid. Ms. Ellison developed the training Suicide Lifeguard at MIMH; a training for medical and behavioral health professionals to develop their skills in assessing, referring, treating, and managing suicidal clients.

Upon completion of this workshop participants will be able to....

1. Understand why temporarily reducing access to firearms can save a life during a suicide crisis.

2. Ask someone about their suicide risk and have a conversation about temporarily reducing access to lethal means when someone may be at risk.

3. Identify safe, responsible, and legal options for safer storage of lethal means when someone is at risk for suicide.