September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about suicide, strengthen our ability to recognize when someone may be struggling, and remind each other that support can make a difference.
At the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), suicide prevention is more than a month-long awareness effort. ODHS has built a comprehensive suicide prevention program that provides employees with evidence-based training and resources for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
Through the Trauma Aware Program, a shared service of ODHS and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), employees of ODHS and OHA have access to three evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention trainings: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), ASIST and Be Sensitive, Be Brave.
These resources give employees practical skills to recognize warning signs, respond when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, and connect people with appropriate support.
From an idea to a statewide resource
The Trauma Aware Program began in 2020 with a focus on building trauma-informed practices and strengthening employee resilience and well-being. Suicide prevention quickly became an important part of that work.
With a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), ODHS launched computer-based QPR training for ODHS employees. QPR became mandatory training for ODHS employees in 2021, helping ensure that thousands of employees have the opportunity to develop skills that could help them recognize and respond to someone who may be struggling. The grant also supports suicide prevention training, materials and resources as the program continues to grow.
Since then, the program has continued to grow. A team of trained instructors now provides additional suicide prevention and intervention training, including ASIST and Be Sensitive, Be Brave.
Supporting employees beyond training
Suicide prevention is not only about what happens in a training. It is also about creating a workplace where people know they can ask for help, recognize when a coworker may be struggling, and understand what to do when someone needs additional support.
Managers can play an important role in that effort. When an employee is experiencing a difficult or potentially traumatic situation, managers may find themselves trying to support the employee while also navigating their own reactions and responsibilities. Trauma Aware provides resources to help managers respond with care, recognize their own limits, and connect employees with appropriate resources.
“We can’t always prevent every tragedy, but we can increase our ability to recognize when someone may be struggling, respond with compassion and connect people to help,” said Shannon Biteng, Trauma Aware Program Manager. “Having these skills and resources available demonstrates our commitment to the well-being of our employees and the people we serve.”
That commitment matters because people may be carrying struggles that others cannot see. Creating a culture of awareness, connection and support benefits not only our workforce, but also our families, friends and communities.
