Suicide. We’ve got to talk about it even though people would rather not. North Dakota Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting Soul Shop–Equipping Faith Communities to Minister to Suicidal Desperation. This one-day training is Tuesday, May 3 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Moorhead and Thursday, May 5 at the Ramkota, Bismarck, from 8:30 – 4:30 pm.
While directed to pastors and faith community leaders, Soul Shop training benefits nurses, counselors, first responders and essentially anyone interested in learning how to effectively respond to suicidal desperation in the Bismarck-Mandan, Fargo-Moorhead, and surrounding communities.
Soul Shop Training addresses the following topics:
- Stigma, fear and shame
- The signs of suicide risk and warning signs
- Suicide statistics and facts
- How communities can create a supporting environment
- How we can alter the way we talk about suicide
Michelle Snyder, Soul Shop Director, joined the Soul Shop team in 2014 and will be leading this workshop. Michelle has dual training in mental health (Master’s in Social Work, Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and theology (Master’s in Divinity).
The workshop fee is $25. Visit the Soul Shop Web site for additional information on the program and the upcoming training sessions
Continuing Education
Soul Shop has been preapproved for 6 contact hours/ CEUs by the ND Board of Nursing, MN Board of Social Work, ND Board of Social Work Examiners.
In North Dakota, the 9th leading cause of death is suicide, and it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States today. In 2019, 47,511 Americans died by suicide. Therefore, Soul Shop was born. Soul Shop’s mission is to equip communities to save lives and to bring hope to those affected by suicide desperation. While directed by pastors and faith community leaders, the Soul Shop training benefits nurses, counselors, first responders and anyone interested in effectively responding to suicidal desperation.
“These high numbers are one of many reasons that it is important to talk about suicide like any other cause of death,” shared Faith Community Nurse Barb Hanson, BSN, RN. “I have walked alongside those that have struggled with suicidal desperation, died from suicide, and have lost loved ones to suicide. This brought me to serve on the North Dakota Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (NDAFSP).”