To make OHSU a suicide safer community, we are working to equip every OHSU member with basic life-saving skills to help in a suicidal crisis. Additionally, we are offering advanced training for individuals across the community who can provide intervention and consultation. We are offering a brief 1-2hr training and in-depth 2-day training to meet these goals.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR):
Just as many are trained in CPR to help those experiencing Cardiac Arrest, we use a method called QPR to offer help to those in a suicidal crisis. This training provides foundational skills and knowledge for all OHSU members. To arrange for a 1-2hr training in your department, please contact Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Hannah Hoeflich, PsyD hoefliha@ohsu.edu.

SafeTALK
SafeTALK is a four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST):
ASIST is a 2-day intensive training for those who would like to feel more confident and competent in intervening with individuals thinking of suicide. This workshop is viewed as a gold standard in suicide first-aid training and offers hands-on, advanced skills training in suicide first-aid. These training are offered quarterly. Please contact Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Hannah Hoeflich, PsyD hoefliha@ohsu.edu to sign up.

Suicide-Safer Campus
Make the physical space safer through means-restriction interventions. This includes projects such as dispersing firearm safety devices and safe medication storage and disposal. 

Support for survivors
The way we support suicide loss survivors and talk about suicide is an important part of suicide prevention. We can help connect with resources for support and healing, and suicide postvention guidance for campus leaders.

A culture of suicide safety
               Tabling

               Out of the Darkness Walk

               Dispersing resource cards

Contact. To become involved in suicide prevention at OHSU or to request training or materials, please contact Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Hannah Hoeflich Psy.D. at hoefliha@ohsu.edu.

1. Ask about suicide: If you are concerned about someone, it is very important to ask clearly and directly about suicide. Asking the question about suicide gives your colleague permission to share, and it clearly sends the message that you care about their life and safety. There is little risk in asking this question, and generally, people respond with relief that they have been asked.
2. Listen non-judgmentally: Listen with the intent to understand the issue. Your genuine support and kindness can provide a vital lifeline for those thinking of suicide.
3. Show support: It takes courage to disclose thoughts of suicide. Be there for them. Let them know that you care, you are grateful they are sharing with you, and assure them that you want to be part of their support system.
4. Connect with resources: Remember, that you are not able to provide mental health assessment and treatment to colleagues. However, you should serve as a support to help them connect to care. Offer help finding resources, scheduling, or connecting to care. Provide a list of resources in writing that they can take with them. View a list of resources here.
5. Confidentiality: You cannot promise confidentiality to your colleague. You may need to find consultation or disclose information about your coworker's suicidal thoughts to assure their safety, connect to resources, or seek emotional support for yourself. However, you can promise that you will only tell those who need to know and not unnecessarily compromise privacy.

Determine if there is imminent danger…
Is this person safe right now?

It is important to determine whether the person with thoughts of suicide is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others. In rare cases, someone with thoughts of suicide may be in the process of acting out a plan for suicide, incapacitated due to extreme distress, experiencing a medical crisis, or be intoxicated. In these situations, take steps to ensure your own safety and contact emergency services. Public Safety is the emergency contact if you are on the OHSU campus or you can call 911 elsewhere. If it is safe to do so, connect verbally with the person thinking of suicide until help arrives.

Is this person safe to leave my office?

If you are concerned about whether a person with thoughts of suicide will remain safe in the near future, you should involve a mental health provider to assess the level of danger they are in. Mental health consultations can be accessed by calling one of the resources (listed below). You can call these resources together, or if your colleague prefers to speak to someone in person, you maybe able to help them arrange to be seen at an urgent mental health walk-in clinic (listed below) or the Emergency Dept.

OHSU Benefited Employees:
Spark EAP Resources
24/7 crisis and brief telephone counseling
1-800-433-2320
 
OHSU Students:
Student Health and Wellness
1-503-494-8665
 
Postdoctoral Scholars:
Spark EAP Resources
24/7 crisis and brief telephone counseling
1-800-433-2320
 
Student Health and Wellness
503-494-8665
 
SOM Residents, Faculty, and Fellows:
Resident Faculty Wellness
Urgent Pager 10975
 
All Community Members:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988
 
Mental Health Urgent Care/Walk-in
Multnomah County - Cascadia Walk-In Clinic
1-503-963-2575
Daily 9am-9pm
 
Washington County - Hawthorn Walk-In Center
1-503-846-4555
Daily 9am-8:30pm
Telehealth only during COVID-19 Crisis
 
BIPOC Support Line
1-503-575-3764
Weekdays 9am -5pm