Training & Support for Students in Distress

This email is sent on behalf of University Health Services (UHS).

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Student Instructors,

The Center for Support and Intervention (CSI) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) have updated the Gold Folder, a safety protocol you’ve likely become acquainted with. You may also be familiar with the Mental Health Guidebook for Faculty and Staff, a tool to assist you in helping students in distress. One component of that help is understanding when a student may be in danger of suicide. Counseling and Psychological Services would like to offer you a unique training specifically to support students who may be thinking about suicide. We have two types of training sessions available: Suicide Intervention and Awareness Education and Psychological First Aid.

SUICIDE INTERVENTION AND AWARENESS EDUCATION
This training will use a scenario, lecture and discussion to help you understand the warning signs and risk factors associated with thoughts of suicide.  You will learn ways to approach and talk to a student about your concerns, including how to ask a question about suicide. Lastly you will learn the resources and how to make appropriate referrals.

Through this training you will learn to:

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide

• Know how to offer hope

• Know how to get help

The 1 hour and 15 minute training offered by Counseling and Psychological Services is specifically for UC Berkeley Faculty, Staff, and GSIs and will be held at the University Health Services. Space is limited so please register quickly.

Tuesday, October 2 - Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Education Center, 12:10-1:30pm, register here

Wednesday, October 3 - Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Education Center, 12:10-1:30pm, register here

Monday, December 3 - Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Education Center, 12:10-1:30pm, register here

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TRAINING (PFA)

When tragic events happen in our UC Berkeley community faculty, staff and GSIs are often called upon to offer support to students. This 1.5 hour course will help you learn the basic skills necessary to provide common sense support after a tragedy, such as a student death. The course will also address CPS response and how faculty, staff, and GSIs can collaborate with the Tang Center. This course is being offered to help increase the support campus provides in the aftermath of a tragedy and help the community begin to heal.

Monday, October 15, PFA for Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Education Center, 12:10-1:30pm, register here

Thursday, October 25,  PFA for Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Education Center, 12:10-1:30pm, register here

Please email Aaron Cohen, PhD at acohen@berkeley.edu if you have any questions.

Be well,

Anna Harte, MDInterim Assistant Vice ChancellorUniversity Health Services

Gloria Saito, PhDInterim Director, Counseling and Psychological ServicesUniversity Health Services

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