Baseline

September 16, 2020 Lost Creek Guide Page 3

- Baseline - Weld County Sheriff’s Office Hosting

By Linda Meyer We made it to mid-September! Only three and a half more months of 2020 to get Active Shooter Training Course through. I think most of us are ready for a new year and a new start. The Weld County Sheriff’s Office is hosting in October an active shooter training in

September is National Suicide Prevention month. On average, in the United States, evstructor course designed to not only teach participants the skills and strategies to surery year 9.8 million adults think seriously about killing themselves; 1.3 million adults will vive, but to also certify them as instructors to pass on those skills to their coworkers. try to commit suicide; and about 45,000 adults will succeed. The two-day instructor training is taught by the ALICE Training Institute. It enI recently attended a webinar about suicide prevention. compasses one day of virtual instruction followed by a full day of drills based on realThe presenter was Dr. Paul Bretz, the Executive Director of life scenarios. The in-person portion of the course will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centus Counseling, Consulting & Education in Denver. He Friday, Oct. 30 at the Horizon Building at Aims Community College, 5401 W. 20th talked about “QPR Training”, meaning Question, Persuade, St. in Greeley. and Refer. Dr. Bretz talked about offering people help Due to COVID-19 likely not dissipating by the end of October, participants will be through positive actions. I wanted to pass on to you some expected to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. The course costs $695. of the ideas and suggestions he discussed in the webinar. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 16. I’ve written on suicide and mental health in several colThe target audience includes law enforcement, private security, school and health umns, and I hope to help remove the stigma around people care administrators, corporate and business executives, and leaders across numerous needing help with mental health. Life isn’t simple anymore, industries who work with, interact or are responsible for large groups of people. Upon and it is okay to ask for help for any kind of illness or issues you may be experiencing. Many times when people talk about killing themselves, it may be because something is happening in their lives that they are unable to deal with. It can be a cry for help or to get attention. Many suicidal people believe they cannot be helped. If you think someone is contemplating suicide, either through their words or their accompletion of the course, participants will be certified ALICE instructors with the knowledge and access to resources to train their coworkers about survival strategies for active shooter scenarios. For more information or to register, visit www.alicetraining.com. Questions may also be directed to Jennah Wilson with ALICE at jwilson@navigate360.com or Deputy Tommy Lamb at tlamb@weldgov.com. tions, persuade them to stay alive. Try to get them to talk about what is happening in their life. You may even have to ask them directly if they are contemplating suicide. Listen to them, give them your full attention. It might help to talk with them privately, away from other people

Do not rush to judgement, just be there to listen. Your willingness to listen to them may help rekindle hope and make a difference in what they are thinking and feeling. Sometimes people just need to know someone cares about them, and that can change their reasons for why they are thinking about killing themselves.

Maybe there is something else in their life that needs to go away or “die”. A habit, such as drugs or alcohol? Stress, such as financial issues or a personal relationship? Ask them what new life would be for them. Listen to their answer, offer a resource and support to help them get started. (There is a list of mental health resources at the end of my column.)

Offer help in any way you can. That could mean calling a suicide/mental health hotline, or helping the person make an appointment with their family doctor, or take them to a hospital emergency room.

Ask them if they will go with you to get help, or if they will let you help them find help. You could even have them promise you not to kill themselves until you find help for them.

Let them know you want them to live, that you are there to help them. Try to get others involved, such as family members, friends, their medical doctor, or a religious advisor. Be part of an ongoing team to help them. Please do not hesitate to get involved! Most people who are contemplating suicide want to live, and will agree to get help.

It all comes down to being a friend: to be there for someone in their darkest times. If more of that happened in our world, we would all be a lot better off.

One more thing: remember to vote!! Our ballots for the November election are supposed to be mailed out in early October. Research the candidates and make an informed decision on who you vote for at every level of government.

Thanks for reading, and please make time to listen to someone. It could be the difference between life and death.

Linda

____ Linda Meyer is the Pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg. Connect with Linda: Pastorcumc18@gmail.com , Twitter @RevLindaMeyer

Mental Health Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741 Colorado Crisis Hotline: 1-844-493-TALK (1-844-493-8255) Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+ Youth): 866-488-7386 Mental Health of Colorado: https://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/ Farm Aid Farmer Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243)