We also examined how participants’ behaviors changed when it came to preventing suicide. We found that in 12 out of the 18 behaviors we measured, participants showed improvement from the beginning to the end of the program.
The areas where we saw the biggest improvements were helping young people find support, listening to their experiences, discussing grief, working with other adults to prevent suicide, and helping after a suicide happens. We also found that more students were reaching out to adults for help.
Virtual Learning Circles Offered
Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES) will offer virtual learning circles this fall. This free course involves 4 virtual 2-hour sessions. Each session builds on the next, and it is highly recommended that participants attend all four. Sessions are interactive and participatory, involving multimedia presentations, small group discussions, surveys and polls.
The training will be conducted virtually, on Thursdays from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, starting on September 28th and continuing on October 5th, 12th, and 26th.
Continuing education credits are available: https://www.pc-cares.org/education-credits
Register to join the learning circles here: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUoduqrqjIuHdGpPxo_lYeVVYjLdPuEYq2v#/registration
Learn to Facilitate PC CARES in November 2023
We are excited to announce the upcoming Training of Facilitators November 8th, 9th, and 10th for people who have attended virtual or in-person PC CARES learning circles and are interested in becoming a PC CARES Facilitator. This comprehensive training will equip facilitators with the necessary skills, knowledge, and materials to host learning circles in their home communities.
It is FREE, supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and a partnership with Maniilaq Association’s Alaska Native Education Program.
Capped at 32 participants, the 3-day Training of Facilitators will take place in Girdwood, Alaska. Because of the limited space, we will prioritize teams of 2 people from the same community in the Northwest Arctic and Bering Strait regions. Sign up on or before September 1st to attend. Participants will be notified by September 12, 2023 if they are among the 32 people selected to attend, or if they are on the waitlist.
To register, you must attend (or plan to attend) all four learning circles (on Zoom or in person) within the past 2 years. If you haven’t had a chance to participate in learning circles yet, plan on attending our virtual sessions (see above).
PC CARES facilitators play a crucial role in creating safe spaces for conversations about suicide prevention within our communities. Your dedication and commitment will make a real difference. Together, we can work towards building a stronger, more supportive community. Register today to secure your spot in the Training of Facilitators: https://arcsapps.umassmed.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=JLYHNMHENY
For more information, visit pc-cares.org/training or email pccares@umich.edu
RHS Students Wrap-Up Learning Circles
This November was a unique opportunity for students in the Rural Human Services (RHS) program to partner with PC CARES for their certificate practicum project. Students in the RHS program travel from their remote villages to attend residential weeklong intensive training sessions each month for two academic years, then complete a practicum as a culmination of the experience. Twenty-two people were trained in November through the RHS program; 18 were RHS students.
16 RHS students completed 4-The number of atte5 learning circles
RHS students supported and partnered with each other to host LCs
35 LCs happened between November 2022 and May3023
Nurturing Success and Overcoming Challenges: Insights from PC CARES Facilitators in the RHS Program
After successfully implementing PC CARES learning circles in their communities, RHS student facilitators participated in a focus group to explore their thoughts about what worked (and what could be helpful) for them as they recruited and hosted five learning circles in their home communities. They discussed the challenges they faced, aspects that made the process easier, and identified ways that PC CARES can provide support to overcome these difficulties. Here are a few ‘take aways’:
Characteristics of PC CARES: Designed for Ease and Ownership
Facilitators highlighted the ease and flexibility of the PC CARES program as a crucial element in successful implementation. The program’s adaptable format allowed them to tailor the content to their communities’ unique needs. By incorporating local strengths, facilitators were able to create a relevant and helpful experience for community members. Many felt empowered by the experience:
“These learning circles have been very empowering for myself and I think for the participants. … at the end of the meeting they seem to hold themselves up a little more. They get to bring things into to light that they might have carried for so long. It reminds them that they have all the tools they need inside them, even underneath all those rocks they carry.”
Additionally, PC CARES increased awareness of the resources available in their region. The user-friendly manual served as a valuable tool, guiding facilitators through the process effectively.
The Power of People: Support Systems & Intentions
The RHS program itself was a fertile example of intentionally cultivating a community of practice where students forge close and trusting relationships. Facilitators heavily relied on support from their peers, providing encouragement, sharing strategies for inviting participants and navigating challenging situations. The involvement of other students and practicum instructors, some even traveled to support fellow RHS students in other communities, was extremely helpful. Facilitators found that facilitating in teams of at least two people allowed for mutual support, distribution of responsibilities, and the sharing of ideas and experiences.
Recruiting people intentionally was an important consideration for many PC CARES facilitators. Having Elders’ presence, wisdom and guidance provided a foundation of cultural and community connection. Facilitators found that inviting individuals they knew personally helped create a comfortable and supportive environment within the learning circles. Family members also played a crucial role, providing encouragement and understanding throughout the process.
The Implementation Process: Preparing for Success
Facilitators emphasized the importance of thorough preparation to ensure successful learning circles. This involved posting flyers, utilizing social media, organizing door prizes for attendees, engaging in conversations with local leaders, finding Elders to participate, and preparing food for the sessions. As facilitators gained experience, they noted that each subsequent learning circle became easier due to their growing knowledge and improved organization. One facilitator said,
“After the first circle I felt like I was scared of nothing and felt better knowing everyone who showed up were all there to support us.”
Contextual Factors: Suicide is a Hard & Important Topic
Facilitators said that prior participation in training such as ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) as part of the Rural Health Services program gave them greater confidence in discussing suicide in crisis situations.
Some RHS students found holding learning circles with a small group that they knew after a recent suicide death was healing. Participants wanted to do something for their community during that time.
RHS students noted that inviting individuals to learning circles could be challenging. They expressed the need for greater awareness of PC CARES in the region, suggesting that mandatory participation in learning circles would facilitate broader engagement.
Looking Ahead: Training and Partnership Guidance
Facilitators expressed the desire for training sessions to include guidance on finding partners with whom they could host the learning circles, as well as orienting them to their roles, and maximizing their contributions to the learning circles. This additional support would enhance collaboration and promote effective facilitation.
Recent PC CARES Presentations
Society for Prevention Research in Washington DC, preconference workshop - Offering a Novel Critical Education Based Approach for Balancing Scientific and Community Knowledge to Mobilize Communities for Equitable Prevention and Wellness: the PC CARES Model
RHS Advisory Council – Diane McEachern presented about The inclusion of PC CARES as the class of 2023 RHS cohort’s practicum project to the Advisory Council, which consists of former RHS students who give guidance on the direction and programming for the Rural Human Services certificate
National Tribal Health Conference – Josie Garnie and Tara Schmidt presented an overview of the PC CARES model along with LC1 to an audience of about 60 people
Messages of Hope: 2023 Alaska Suicide Prevention Conference in Anchorage - Listen/watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=992JqZQ5cMc&fbclid=IwAR38b7bOAR2FNGG_l-9WIV9Mtx4JjivCk_zXUmG25ZSMhbNcqwbmJAoESB4
At 6:50 Lisa starts the first of 2 talks about PC CARES, which takes about an hour, focusing on safe homes: how just making it 10 mins harder to access a loaded gun can save a life. The second session starts at 1:18:55, and talks about how non-demanding acts of kindness can increase help-seeking.
