Gatekeeper Training

GATEKEEPER TRAINING FOR SCHOOL STAFF

Rationale
Gatekeeper training is a research-based strategy for reducing youth suicides. Many people know how to perform CPR for heart attacks. This brief workshop teaches a simple and effective skill for suicide prevention: ACT.
A=Acknowledge the signs and symptoms
C=show Care and Concern for the person
T=Tell someone who knows how to intervene (pupil services)

Suicide is usually an impulsive act by a young person who doesn't understand how to effectively cope with life's challenges. Through gatekeeper training, staff come to understand that they do not need to be mental health professionals to help a student in crisis. Nor do they increase the risk of suicide by asking if students have thought about hurting themselves. If they know how to ACT, they reduce the likelihood of suicides in their students.

About the Webcast
This webcast was part of a series presented by the WI Department of Health and Family Services. The total length is 85 minutes, but you can scroll ahead to the portion most relevant for your needs. The entire presentation includes sign language interpreting for people with hearing impairments.

Gatekeeper Webcast

Agenda for complete webcast

Time	Presenter
0:00-6:00	Rebecca Cohen, DHFS Planner/Analyst, introduces the participants.
6:00-11:00	John Easterday, DHFS Interim Administrator of the Division of Mental Health, discusses DHFS' efforts in youth mental health.
11:00-15:30	Carolyn Stanford Taylor, DPI Assistant State Superintendent, discusses the collaboration between DPI and DHFS, and gives some background about school involvement in mental health and suicide prevention.
15:30-27:30	Shel Gross, Mental Health Association of WI Director of Public Policy, discusses the $1.1 million Garrett Lee Smith Grant Wisconsin received from the federal government.
27:30-60:00	John Humphries, DPI School Psychologist, gives the gatekeeper training for school staff. The training covers the background on youth suicide and presents ACT as a skill.
60:00-85:00	Jon Hisgen, DPI Health Education and Physical Activity Consultant, presents an overview of the middle- and high-school curricula for youth suicide prevention. The curricula help schools meet the requirements in state law for youth suicide prevention education.

Gatekeeper PowerPoint


How to use the Webcast and PowerPoint Slides
Here are some options for using the materials on this page.

1. Connect a computer to an LCD projector and speakers and show the gatekeeper and curriculum presentation to your entire school staff. You will need to be connected to the internet (a high speed connection as is common in schools is most effective). You will need about an hour to do the gatekeeper training and have time for questions. Or, if you only have 45 minutes, you can present the gatekeeper alone, without the curriculum pieces.
2. Download the slides and use the webcast as an opportunity for you to learn enough to give the presentation at your site.
3. John Humphries is also available to take questions over the phone with a speakerphone connected on your site after the webcast is finished.
4. John Humphries can also help you get county-level suicide risk and suicide completion data to make your presentation more relevant.

If you experience technical difficulties in using the webcast, go to http://media.wi.gov/help.

E-mail John Humphries for more information about how to present the gatekeeper workshop.
E-mail Jon Hisgen for copies of the classroom curricula.

For questions about this information, contact John P. Humphries (608) 266-7189

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:27 AM