news-sault college

A Canadian Mental Health Association Program that provides mental health and suicide awareness training is branching out for the first time to a post secondary institution.  Sault College becomes the first in the country to partner with the CMHA in providing the training for its 180 varsity athletes, coaches and other athletic staff through the program Talk Today.  CMHA Sault Ste. Marie instructor Lisa Carricato says the program was first introduced in 2014 in partnership with the Ontario Hockey League.  Carricato says the training includes recognizing the signs of suicide and typically someone considering suicide gives off invitations for help…

 

Carricato says Talk Today came about following the suicide death of a 20-year old OHL player in March 2014…

 

The training involves two components—–safeTalk a three hour accredited session that teaches how to recognize persons with thoughts of suicide and ASIST, a two-day program that teaches participants how to identify those at risk and how to intervene.  The training will be provided to the college’s  varsity athletes and other athletic staff at Sault College by the middle of next month.