New Lenox Safe Community Coalition To Offer Suicide Alertness Program

NEW LENOX, IL — The New Lenox Safe Community Coalition, in partnership with Sertoma Centre, Inc., is pleased to announce a free suicide prevention program called “safeTALK.”

This program is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 12 in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall, 1 Veterans Parkway. Lunch will be provided for all those in attendance. Registration is being handled through Eventbrite via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safetalk-free-4-hour-training-in-suicide-alertness-skills-tickets-315745622657.

“safeTALK” is a four-hour training in suicide alertness skills. Attendees will learn four basic steps to create a life-saving connection. This program is widely used by professionals and is applicable for the general public.

“safeTALK” works. Studies have shown that participants gain confidence:

• Asking people about suicide directly.
• Connecting them to life-saving resources.
• Keeping them safe until those resources take over.

In 2016, 82,189 people completed the “safeTALK” program. There were 64,107 interventions with 8,975 suicide attempts prevented. *estimate based on studies.

This program is ideal for community members, counselors, social workers, clinicians, educators, coaches, athletes, firefighters, police officers, students and anyone wishing to learn life-saving suicide alertness skills.

Additional questions regarding this program may be directed to Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator, Village of New Lenox - dmartin@newlenox.net or (815) 462-6493. Additional information about “safeTALK” may also be found at https://www.livingworks.net/safeTALK.

This press release was produced by the Village of New Lenox. The views expressed here are the author’s own.