• Recognizing distress: Participants learn to identify the signs of mental health challenges and suicidal distress in others.
• Cultural sensitivity: The program is designed to be culturally competent and can be adapted to the specific needs of a community.
• Connecting to help: A major goal is to equip participants to confidently ask if someone is considering suicide and to connect them with appropriate support services.
• Promoting resilience: The training includes strategies for building resilience and maintaining good mental health.

We also want to raise the issue of the impact of this training on loss survivors, attempt survivors, folx living with thoughts of suicide and folx close to them. The Be Sensitive, Be Brave training teaches a specific suicide prevention intervention. Some of the content of the curriculum may activate troubling feelings and thoughts. The class is not a form of counseling, therapy or support group, so while we can be supportive within the constraints of the class, it really isn’t going to be the appropriate place to process personal experiences deeply.   

If you are a suicide attempt survivor or have experienced a loss by suicide or have been impacted by suicide, we suggest delaying taking the Be Sensitive, Be Brave class for at least a year.  If you would like support or if you are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact Clackamas County Crisis Line at 503-655-8585 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255; they are all available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  

If you have questions about whether this class is a good fit for you at the present time, please feel free to reach out.