The Lifesavers Initiative at UW uses a comprehensive approach to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among students through services including education, training and support.
The Lifesavers Initiative came to fruition through a grant and has been a part of the university since 2018.
“Back in 2018, UW was one of 19 colleges and universities nationwide that applied for and was awarded a Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant,” Ashley Clark, a suicide prevention grant assistant at the Wellness Center, said. “That was to fund this UW Lifesavers Initiative. It’s something that is administered by the Wellness Center within UW’s Campus Recreation department.”
Each month of the school year under the Lifesavers Coalition, meetings are held to discuss suicide prevention. These meetings are open to participation from students, staff, and members of the surrounding community.
“We meet monthly, except for summer months for the most part, and it’s a group consisting of staff, students, faculty, and community folks if they want to come,” Dr. Julio Brionez, a psychologist at the University Counseling Center, said. “We primarily talk about suicide prevention efforts locally and nationally and events we’re having, as well as statistics and how to respond to student crises prior to them arising. Every so often we have guest speakers.”
The meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. No cost or membership is necessary to participate.
Dr. Brionez said that members of the community who are interested in attending can email him and receive a Zoom link, as meetings are currently virtual due to the pandemic.
“Ideally in the fall, we’ll meet in person,” Brionez said. “Anyone can attend, as long as they’re interested in suicide prevention. Social connectedness is not just about coming to a meeting each month, although it helps, but it’s about how we can also promote a public health approach to preventing suicide.”
Clark said that meeting topics vary each month, and student participation is encouraged.
“We talk about various things, like practical skills application and crisis response planning. It’s not themed or the same thing every time,” Clark said. “Students are welcomed. The more student voices we can get on these coalitions, the better.”
Dr. Brionez said that discussions are held at the end of each meeting to talk about what will be covered in the next month.
“At the end of every meeting, I ask the group what they want to cover, whether it’s a speaker, statistics, training opportunities, legislation, or something else,” Brionez said. “Next month, I’ll be talking about CRPs, or crisis response plans and teaching people how to do those. It’s pretty far and wide. Lots of things can prevent suicide.”
The Lifesavers Initiative also offers Gatekeepers Training for students, staff, faculty, and community members. These two hour training sessions allow participants to learn how to identify students at risk of suicide or suicide attempts. Skills for intervention are also taught.
“The Gatekeepers Training helps UW faculty, staff and students, and even community members, learn the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and gives them the skills to have those conversations and give referrals,” Clark said.
“Resources can be found on the website, and if folks want to contact me, I can always shoot them an email of resources that we give at every Gatekeepers Training,” Brionez said.
Clark said that getting involved is a great way to raise awareness for the Lifesavers Initiative, suicide prevention, and other mental health resources on campus.
“There’s a lot of ways to participate in these programs,” Clark said. “Word of mouth is extremely powerful, and the more people that have those skills and learn about the resources that are available to them, the better.”
Clark said that students and other members of the community who feel strongly about increasing mental health promotion on campus should reach out to Dr. Brionez and get involved with the Lifesavers Coalition.
There are several upcoming program offerings in April, including Gatekeepers Training and a Lifesavers Coalition meeting, Self-Love and Happiness Workshop Series, Big Sky Stress Management Mindfulness Workshops, General Substance Abuse and Mental Health Screenings, and Sources of Strength.
To learn more about these upcoming programs and to register, visit the following link: https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/wellness-center/educational-programming/index.html
The website for the UW Lifesavers Initiative can be found here:
https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/wellness-center/lifesavers-initiative/index.html
For ways to get involved, including Gatekeepers Training and the Lifesavers Coalition, visit the following link: https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/wellness-center/lifesavers-initiative/ways-to-get-involved.html
Mental Health Resources:
University Counseling Center (UCC): (307) 766-2187 [M-F 8-5]
UCC After Hours Crisis Line: (307) 766-8989
Laramie Suicide Prevention Hotline (call or text): 307-977-7777
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
