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Early Signs Training and Education

Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds a variety of trainings. All instruction and materials are provided FREE OF CHARGE to any individuals age 18 and over who live, work or volunteer in Yolo County and who are interested in learning more about mental illnesses, suicidal behavior, and how to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Early Signs focuses on reducing stigma of mental illness through community education, while equipping trained individuals to intervene earlier in a mental health crisis. The listing below provides a summary of course content and any pre-work required. 

2024 Monthly Training Schedule available on the Yolo County Calendar of Events

(www.yolocounty.org/living/i-want-to/calendar-of-county-events)

• Talk Saves Lives™ created by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), is a standardized 45-60 minute education program that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe (www.afsp.org/talk-saves-lives). Topics covered include: Scope of the Problem: The latest data on suicide in the U.S. and worldwide, Research: Information from research on what causes people to consider suicide, as well as health, historical, and environmental factors that put individuals at risk, Prevention: An understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk, and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care, What You Can Do: Guidance on warning signs and behaviors to look for, and how to get help for someone in a suicidal crisis. No pre-work required. 

• Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid, teaching individuals in the community how to recognize the signs and symptoms of various mental illnesses and how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis (Youth Mental Health First Aid focuses on helping adults recognize how differently these signs and symptoms might present in adolescents); 2 hours of prework required.

• Q-P-R—Question, Persuade, Refer trains individuals to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. No pre-work required. 

• Suicide Prevention in the Workplace, includes videos, group discussions/exercises and roleplays to create a better understanding of your role in suicide prevention and identify risk factors and warning signs. No pre-work required. 

All instruction and materials are provided FREE OF CHARGE to any individuals age 18 and over who live, work or volunteer in Yolo County and who are interested in learning more about mental illnesses, suicidal behavior, and how to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Register for Trainings

Training courses are offered free of charge. For additional information or to register for trainings and education courses,   e-mail MHSA-MHTrainings@yolocounty.org or call the MHSA voicemail at (530) 666-8710.

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