Training Overview
Talking about mental health and suicide can be an uncomfortable and uncertain topic that brings up different feelings, beliefs, and attitudes for everyone. Changing the Narrative is an interactive conversation that empowers participants to change perceptions of mental health towards hope and resilience. The goal is to know that individuals are not alone, help is available, and healing is possible.
Throughout the session, participants will engage in dialog about being intentional in the words we are using. Certain ways of talking about mental health and suicide can alienate members of any community, sensationalize the issue, contribute to a decrease in help-seeking behavior, or even present suicide as a glamorous, preferred way of dealing with problems. Having healthy conversations about mental health and suicide avoids harmful messages that might increase suicide risk in individuals or undermine suicide prevention goals. By doing this safely, it reduces stigma, mitigates risks, promotes help-seeking, and respects all individuals.
About the Trainer
Tanya Carter is the Suicide Prevention Unit Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health. Ms. Carter has 20 plus years of experience in community education programs, program development, and crisis intervention. She is passionate about suicide prevention and reducing the stigma related to mental illness. Prior to joining the Minnesota Department of Health, Ms. Carter worked in tribal and county government, coordinating and leading mental health, mobile crisis, and suicide prevention efforts in rural Minnesota. Ms. Carter is a safeTALK, ASIST, Postvention and CALM trainer. In her free time Ms. Carter enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two children, in the winter time you will find her on the ski slopes with her kids, and in the summer months enjoying time at the lake, the in-between seasons are spent biking the beautiful Minnesota bike trails.
Register Here
This training is free for all attendees.
*Participants will be emailed a Zoom link one week prior and the day of the training.
Continuing Education
One social work continuing education and POST credit (pending) is provided.