Suicide Prevention Training at Marquette Area Public Schools

MARQUETTE, MI – Marquette Area Public Schools will be holding a “gatekeeper training” for educators in the area of suicide prevention. Following the death of one of our MSHS students last school year, and the deaths of other young people in some surrounding school districts over the last year, the MAPS district crisis team has continued to meet with the goal of developing a system-wide suicide prevention plan. Our goal is to develop a permanent team of trainers in our schools, who will, in turn, train all K-12 staff—teachers, administrators, bus drivers, secretaries, and other support staff.

What is gatekeeper training? It is like CPR for a mental health crisis. Team members will be taught basic skills to recognize a person at risk of suicide and to connect that person to professional help. MAPS is bringing in a “train the trainer” professional from the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Institute. Patti Karwoski, MSHS Counselor, and Kim Carr, MSHS Business Teacher, are working together to fundraise in order to deliver this program. MAPS has invited teams of two from Negaunee, Ishpeming, Westwood, Gwinn, and North Star Academy school systems to join them. The training will be held on Wednesday, November 28^th at MSHS. An evening program, open to interested community members, will be held on Wednesday, November 28^th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Shirley Smith Little Theatre at MSHS. Participants will go through the gatekeeper training.

To make a financial contribution, or to obtain further information, please contact Patti Karwoski at 906-225-5368.

[Post updated July 12, 2016 to remove reference to out-of-date attachment information, as well as to adjust city of origin formatting.]