An NMSU Cooperative Extension Program

Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

  2. Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

What is Youth Mental Health First Aid? 

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches parents and family members, school personnel, health and human services professionals, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction-related challenge or crisis. Participants in a YMHFA training learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of challenges and crises and how to spot patterns of behavior, thoughts, feelings, and appearance. In addition, participants learn how to activate the Mental Health First Aid action plan (ALGEE), learn about suicide prevention, and making referrals. The focus of YMHFA training is on savings lives through awareness, harm reduction, and suicide prevention.

  • New Mexico has the fourth highest rate of suicide among all U.S. states
  • Two out of five (40%) of high school students feel sad or hopeless
  • One out of six (17%) of youth aged 12-17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year

What Is Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)?

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) is a suicide prevention technique done in three simple steps. Just as trained people save thousands of lives every year with CPR, QPR is a method to save lives by preventing suicide and relieving mental distress. QPR offers renewed hope when someone is contemplating suicide. We all have a responsibility to help prevent suicide!

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:
  • Recognize the warning signs of suicide
  • Know how to offer hope
  • Know how to get help and save a life 

 

Our Role in Suicide Prevention Trainings

The Center of Innovation provides suicide prevention training opportunities in both Youth Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer. The Center of Innovation is committed to educating the public on suicide prevention, specifically in techniques that work for youth and teens. These trainings are free or low cost and are intended to be accessible to all who work or live with youth. Trainings are facilitated by Enas Khaleq, MA who is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer instructor. 

Benefits of Being Trained in Suicide Prevention:

    • Early recognition of signs of suicide, intervention, and referrals 
    • Increased mental health literacy
    • Increased confidence/self-efficacy and likelihood to help a young person in distress
    • Reduced stigma and increased empathy/acceptance toward youth with mental health challenges

    (Findings from YMHFA Studies conducted in the United States)

    “Odds are, you know a teen with a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder. Knowing how to identify the signs of a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis puts you in a unique position to help a teen – and possibly save their life”

    Get Trained in Suicide Prevention!

     Click on a training title below to learn more and to register for the next available training

    Question, Persuade, Refer Gatekeeper Training
    Youth Mental Health First Aid

    YMHFA & Suicide Prevention Resources

    Click on a resource link below to learn more

    Subscribe to our mailing list to get notified of additional training opportunities related to suicide prevention.

    For specific questions, please contact Enas Khaleq at [email protected]

    Upcoming Suicide Prevention Trainings