Through the Pain to Wellness

Designed specifically for Aboriginal communities, “Through the Pain to Wellness: Community-Based Suicide Prevention Program” offers a culturally-sensitive introduction to the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary for community-based suicide prevention. The three key goals of the program are:

  • to create emotional safety in the face of a very painful issue;
  • to provide essential knowledge, strategies and techniques to respond to suicide as a psychological and social problem (intervention and post-vention);
  • to understand wellness and how to assist a person, family, and community to live in wellnesscleanse suicide from their lives (tue prevention);
  • to develop a core group of skilled and resilient individuals who can assist individuals in suicidal crisis and who are prepared to operate as a community mobilization network.

The subject of suicide often brings out a lot of powerful emotions and memories. Through the Pain includes talking-circles at the beginning and end of each day and provides the time and support necessary for the spontaneous sharing of personal stories. The opportunity for healing has proven to be as valuable to the participants as the information and skills offered.

  • Each participant receives a comprehensive suicide prevention handbook (150 pages).

AGENDA

Colonization is the Disease

– Colonization and Suicide

– Colonization and Mental Health

Culture is the Cure for SuicideTrue Suicide Prevention

– The 4 Cultural Branches of Wellness

– Self Worth: Enhancing Connection & Empowerment

– A Worthwhile Life: Enhancing Purpose & Wisdom

– Balancing the Values of Care & Respect and the Validation-Invitation 2-Step

Understanding Suicide

– The Three Steps of a Suicidal Crisis

– The Four Signals of Suicide

– Self Worth Protects Us From Suicide

The Three Steps to Help a Suicidal Person: Community-Based Suicide Intervention

1: Ask: Suicide Risk Assessment:

– Three Levels of Suicide Risk

2: Listen: Active Listening & Crisis Intervention

3: Help:

– Safety/Wellness Plans

– Responding to 3 Levels of Suicide Risk

– Consultation and Confidentiality

Community-Based Suicide Postvention

– Contagion Prevention

 Decolonizing Ourselves And Our Practice in 3 Steps: Values-Driven Community-Based Suicide Prevention/Community Engagement

– Shifting Focus from Problems to opportunities

– Shifting Focus from an Individual to a  Community-Based Identity

– Shifting from Government Sanctioned Problem Resources to Community/Cultural Wellness Resources

– Visioning a Suicide-Free Community

– Community Wellness Planning

Self Care

– Serenity in the Face Suicidal Crisis