May 10, 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Starting on Saturday, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and its Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative (STRIVE) program will present two lethal means counseling training sessions. This type of counseling has been proven to reduce suicide attempts and decrease risk for death via suicide.
Attendees will learn about suicide prevention and how secure firearm storage can prevent firearm injury or death. They will learn how to talk about secure firearm storage with others, and how to challenge common misperceptions about lethal means safety and lethal means counseling. Firearm lock boxes will be provided.
This training is designed for anyone who works inside or outside of clinical settings. The sessions are open to general community members, first responders, peers, caregivers, and spouses, along with those who work directly with people who are at increased risk for suicide.
STRIVE is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers at Ohio State conducting a broad array of clinical, exploratory, and preclinical trials to improve suicide and trauma prevention and intervention. STRIVE is the only research institute in the United States that explicitly focuses on developing, refining, and improving treatments and care in the area of suicide, trauma and PTSD, and firearm violence risk reduction.
The four-hour training is offered to Franklin County residents at no cost with support from the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Mental Health of America Ohio, and The Columbus Foundation.
General Community (Franklin County Residents) Training
Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Vance Outdoors, 4250 Alum Creek Dr, Obetz, Ohio.
Military and Veteran Focused Training
Date: Friday, May 17
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: AimHi Family Firearms Center, 10299 Johnstown Rd., New Albany, Ohio
Media must contact Eileen Scahill, Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu to attend either session.
# # #