Diné College Hosts Suicide Prevention Expo and Training
25th September 2024
TSAILE, AZ- The Diné College Student Mental Health Wellness Program partnered with Tsehootsooi Medical Center’s Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Department to host a Suicide Prevention Expo on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The event, held at the Ned Hatathli Center on the Tsaile campus, ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering key suicide prevention training for students, staff, and faculty.
The first training, Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), took place from 10 a.m. to noon, equipping participants with essential skills to recognize the warning signs of suicide and connect individuals with life-saving resources.
The second training, SafeTALK, will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This session will provide additional tools to help attendees identify persons with suicidal thoughts and intervene with practical steps to offer support.
Suicide prevention is critical, especially in rural communities where access to mental health care is limited. According to Mental Health America (2024), rural areas have 20% fewer primary care providers compared to urban areas. Additionally, 65% of rural counties lack a psychiatrist, and 81% do not have access to a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Suicide rates in rural regions range from 18.3 to 20.5 per 100,000 residents, higher than the 10.9 to 12.5 per 100,000 observed in large urban areas. Faculty members are encouraged to inform students about these trainings, which provide life-saving skills to support mental health in the community.
