Suicide Prevention Trainings

Suicide prevention trainings are an excellent way to ensure you have the knowledge to identify and respond to individuals who may be experiencing a crisis. Trainings are available for students, faculty, and staff.

Participating in a training is an excellent way to take a proactive approach to the wellness of not only yourself, but also your community. 

Mental Well-being for Students – Online Training

Mental Well-being for Students equips students with essential skills and information to navigate the stressors and emotional challenges associated with college life. The 45-minute online course helps learners practice self-care strategies, recognize when they or their peers are in distress, and take action to find additional support. 

Incoming ISU students (graduate, undergraduate, professional, and transfer students) in the Fall are required to take Mental Well-being for Students.  It will show up in your Canvas account starting July 1, 2023.  The deadline to complete the module is July 31, 2023.

For Spring enrolled students, Mental Well-being for Students will show up on your Canvas account starting January 2, 2024. The deadline to complete is January 31, 2024.

If you are currently struggling with your mental health or after completing this training you would like to seek additional support, there are a list of resources below. We appreciate that you are taking the time to complete this important and valuable training.

To access Mental Well-being for Students Online Training, please follow the steps below:

  1. Go to: https://canvas.iastate.edu/
    • Mental Well-being for Students will show up in your dashboard. 
    • Click the course tile (Mental Well-being for Students Online Training).  
    • Begin!

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is a 1 hour educational program designed to teach lay and professional “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond.  Gatekeepers can include anyone who is strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide (e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers). The process follows three steps: (1) Question the individual’s desire or intent regarding suicide, (2) Persuade the person to seek and accept help, and (3) Refer the person to appropriate resources. Trainees receive a QPR booklet and wallet card as a review and resource tool that includes local referral resources.

To request a training for a group – select the first option on the form

To Sign up for a training as an individual – select the second option on this form.

Cyclone Support Training

Cyclone Support Training is for Faculty/Staff or student leaders at ISU to learn skills in helping identify potential wellbeing issues affecting students and connecting students to resources for support.   This training is intended to meet the public health goal of reducing harm and negative consequences from various wellbeing issues that students experience while in college.

The training covers three components of an evidence-based public health strategy:

  • ASK – quickly assesses the severity of issue(s) and identifies the appropriate options for referral.
  • EVOKE – focuses on increasing insight and awareness regarding issue and motivation toward behavioral change or utilization of resources.
  • REFER – provides those identified as needing assistance with connections to resources.

The training helps staff learn how to embed these skills into their work to support students.

Training is interactive with role model and role play exercises.

Training Sign Up/Request

Participate in a Green Dot Training

Green Dot trainings provide the foundation for participants to become active bystanders and to engage in violence prevention through their everyday actions and behaviors. The purpose of Green Dot is to provide theory-driven understanding and practical skills that empower ISU to collectively assert that interpersonal, power-based violence has no place on our campus. Participants leave Green Dot trainings with a clear sense of their part in sustaining this message

Green Dot trainings are offered in three different stages based on your history with the Green Dot program. 

  • Overview Session

    A 45-60 minute interactive presentation designed to introduce the basic elements of Green Dot as well as some useful skills for bystander intervention. Ideal for classes, groups, and any large gatherings. This training is intended for people new to Green Dot and is open to everyone on campus.

  • Bystander Training

    A 2-3 hour extended training that combines lecture, individual reflection, small group interaction, and high energy activities to build on participants’ understanding of Green Dot and increase their chances of engaging in bystander intervention. This training is intended for people who have completed the overview session.

  • Enhancement Session

    A 45–60 minute booster session that dives deeper into violence prevention skill development and energizes participants to continue their engagement with Green Dot. This training is intended for people who have completed the bystander training.

Recovery Ally Training

Student Health and Wellness offers a 90 minute recovery ally training for faculty, staff, and students focused on how to support students in recovery or seeking recovery.

In order to create an atmosphere of acceptance and empowerment for students who are in or considering recovery, Recovery Ally training provides an overview of what recovery means and what it looks like to build a recovery positive environment for students in or seeking recovery and to help them feel a greater sense of belonging.

Topics Covered include:

  • Understand the complex nature of substance use disorder
  • Confront stigma regarding substance use disorders and recovery
  • Be able to effectively listen and respond to those who express needs using supportive language
  • Define the multiple pathways approach to achieving wellness in recovery
  • Know available recovery support resources and how to access them

Community of C.A.R.E.

Community of C.A.R.E focuses on student groups’ collective action to prioritize and engage in wellbeing. Social networks play a key role in wellbeing and shaping the norms around wellbeing. Community of C.A.R.E focuses on helping student groups (e.g. sororities, fraternities, clubs, residence halls/apartment communities, organizations, teams, etc.) prioritize and engage in sustainable strategies to enhance wellbeing for all. We all play a role in creating a culture of wellbeing at ISU and this is a way you can contribute to shifting that culture!

Student leaders in various student organizations can get paired with a Peer Wellness Educator to work with during the year. The Peer Wellness Educator will work with your group to help you think through strategies to enhance collective group wellbeing.

Get started by emailing pwe_ga@iastate.edu

No Clone Stands Alone

This presentation explores widespread stressors and the impact of those stressors. Together we will glimpse at the most common trauma responses we may experience and/or see in our community. While we strive for Iowa State University to be a home away from home, our focus surrounds increasing compassion toward self and others while sharing resources available to help Cyclones.

Don’t Set Yourself on Fire to Keep Others Warm: Self Compassion and Mindfulness for Everyone

Understand the impact of burnout, learn strategies for coping with burnout, become aware of resources you can access for individual support and identify strategies for creating a culture of wellness and self-care in your life.

Register here.