Umatter® for Schools Winter Edition

About this Training:

Umatter for Schools aims to help teams build comprehensive suicide prevention awareness, strong and thoughtful conversation facilitation, understanding of roles and responsibilities, protocols for prevention and postvention situations, and be positioned to teach and train other school employees awareness basics in the effort to fortify a solid suicide prevention foundation and culture. Participant teams will engage in all aspects of Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Training via self paced asynchronous modules and virtual live zoom sessions.

Who should attend:

Schools are encouraged to send teams with a minimum of two people consisting of a guidance counselor, nurse, health educator, mental health provider, and/or administrator. Support of school administration is recommended.

Cost is $800 per person. With a team of 3 or more, your administrator/principal gets a free registration.

Free Participation for GLS Registrants from Bennington, Chittenden, Rutland, and Windham Counties, made possible by funding from the VT Department of Health, and for AWARE Registrants SOUTHWEST VERMONT SUPERVISORY UNION, BARRE UNIFIED
UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND CALEDONIA CENTRAL SUPERVISORY UNION, made possible by funding from the VT Department of Mental Health.

*Registrants supported by GLS funding are expected to appoint an evaluation liaison from their team to track screening-related data reported quarterly. Please reach out to Zan Lewis (zan@healthandlearning.org) for more information.*

Objectives of Training:

● Deepen understanding of risk factors and warning signs

● Develop knowledge skillset and competencies of facilitating conversations about suicide

● Identify, with confidence, next steps in getting help

● Create and share prevention and postvention protocols

● Gain capacity to break stigma culture related to mental health, suicide, and asking for help

Additional Information:

Signing up for Umatter for Schools Winter 2025 means you are making the commitment to attend all four zoom sessions in addition to completing all asynchronous work required in the course.

Course platform login and instructions will be provided via email the week prior to start of course by CHL instructors.

The VT Center for Health and Learning can also bring Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training to your workplace, organization, or community group. Please contact Cristina Maddocks at cristina@healthandlearning.org for more information.