Center for Health and Learning

Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH): Partnered with the Vermont Department of Mental Health to support the development of systemic and sustainable infrastructure in Vermont focused on best practices for the prevention of suicide. Provided training in effective suicide prevention practices; promoted public awareness through messaging that suicide is a matter of public health and is preventable; led the development of public and private policies; expanded the implementation of a Zero Suicide approach in Vermont through training and education within mental health and healthcare organizations; trained 81 clinicians in CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality); conducted Umatter suicide prevention trainings; conducted Introduction to Zero Suicide trainings. Distributed over 10,000 wallet cards with suicide prevention resources. Planned and delivered a virtual Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium with over 200 attendees. Also supported the activities of the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center and the Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition.Distributed over 10,000 wallet cards with suicide prevention resources. Planned and delivered a virtual Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium with over 200 attendees. Also supported the activities of the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center and the Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Vermont Department of Health Department of Substance Abuse Prevention (DSU): Provided logistical support for a multi-part training on Motivational Interviewing. 15 participants attended the training. Provided support to trainings related to intervention, treatment, recovery, and health equity skills. Designed and facilitated statewide professional development trainings for community-level prevention staff.

Vermont Department of Health: CHL administered a suicide prevention stakeholder survey and analyzed the results as a part of a large Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Grant. They developed a suicide prevention inventory and treatment guide, available on the CHL website. CHL also provided over 40 trainings to 917 people on suicide prevention and lethal means safety. CHL developed a comprehensive packet of information related to postvention, and conducted a number of trainings related to health equity.Vermont Department of Health CHL conducted a number of Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training, and established a Youth Zero Suicide Academy and Community of Practice prioritizing 4 Vermont counties as a part of the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Grant. CHL also promoted lethal means safety as a public health strategy to schools and other youth-serving organizations.