September 23 - 26412 - Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes - A CALM Informed Training
1.5 credits
Full course description
Title: Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes: a CALM Informed Training
Presented By: Katie Ellison, MS, MA, NCC
Date(s): Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Central Time
Format: Live Interactive Webinar, Synchronous Distance Learning
Location: Online
CE Credit Awarded: 1.5 [Suicide Prevention] CE Credit
Total Minutes of Educational Instruction: 90 Minutes
Fee: $0; fee collected at registration includes attendance for the training and CE certificate issuance
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM (30 minutes)
· Lethal Means Safety – no different from other home safety practices
· Why we should talk about firearms and suicide
· 11 Commandments for firearm safety
· Suicide risk factors and warning signs
· Evidence that Lethal Means Safety is an effective suicide prevention strategy
· Why focus on Firearms?
· How, where, and why a conversation about suicide risk and access to lethal means
o Video demonstration – Elena
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (30 minutes)
· Practice asking the questions
o Are you thinking about suicide?
o Are you thinking of killing yourself?
· Continue the conversation
o When the answer is “No”.
§ Refer to 988 if thoughts should change
§ Video demonstration – Luis
· Continue the conversation
o When the answer is “Yes”
§ Call, text, or chat 988 to get assistance
§ Shift thinking toward safety
§ Reinforce the concept of “time and distance” to reduce the risk of death.
§ Work together to create a plan
§ Stay until safe
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM (30 minutes)
· Keep the conversation going
o Identify who else can help reduce access to lethal means
o Explore concerns about roadblocks to removing or safe storing firearms
o Explore safe storage strategies when firearms cannot be removed from the home.
o Make a plan and follow up
· Video Demonstration – Barbara
· Video Demonstration – Mikey’s dad
· Reduce access to other lethal methods
· Q&A
Speaker Bio: Ms. Ellison is the Associate Director of Research Programs at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Institute of Mental Health and leads Firearm Violence and Suicide Prevention Programs. She holds degrees in Family and Human Development, Psychology, and School Counseling. With a career spanning corrections, K-12 education, and research, Ms. Ellison draws on her experience as a suicide attempt survivor, mental health advocate, and expert. She co-developed Conversations for Suicide Safer Schools and Homes and created Suicide Lifeguard.
Learning Objectives:
1. Associate why temporarily reducing access to firearms can save a life during a suicide crisis
2. Practice asking someone about their suicide risk and have a conversation about temporarily reducing access to lethal means when someone may be at risk
3. Identify and deploy safe, responsible, and legal options for safer storage of lethal means when someone is at risk for suicide
Description: Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes (CSSH) is a CALM-informed training by the Safer Homes Collaborative that empowers participants to prevent suicide by reducing access to lethal means, especially firearms. With a focus on service members and Veterans, CSSH teaches how to recognize suicide risk factors, ask effective questions, and create safety plans that add time and distance from firearms. Grounded in research and national best practices, the training offers respectful, practical strategies that enhance participants’ confidence and ability to engage in life-saving conversations.
Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, and/or other Mental Health Professionals
Accreditations:
Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH)
The University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Institute of Mental Health will be responsible for this program and will maintain a record of your continuing education credits earned.
MIMH awards 1.5 clock hour(s) or 1.8 contact hour(s) (.18 CEUs) for this program, including 0 clock hour(s) towards ethics, 1.5 clock hour(s) towards suicide prevention, and 0 clock hour(s) towards cultural competency.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
MIMH is an NBCC - Approved Continuing Education Provider, No. 6339 (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC - approved clock hours for events (or programs) that meet NBCC requirements. Sessions (or programs) for which NBCC – approved clock hours will be awarded are identified in the program bulletin (or web site). The ACEP is solely responsible for all aspects for the program.
1.5 clock hour(s) are offered to the participant for this program.
Accommodations Policy: Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact MIMH, Professional Training Center in writing at conferences@mimh.edu , as early as possible to request reasonable accommodations, such as ASL interpreters, alternate format materials, and map of accessible features.
Grievance Policy for UMSL | MIMH, Professional Training Center:
Complaints about Course Content, Speakers, Facilities, Nonreceipt of Certificates, Miscellaneous:
UMSL | MIMH, Professional Training Center is committed to providing quality professional continuing education trainings. If you experience dissatisfaction with the quality of services provided, the course content, speakers, facilities used, certificates or nonreceipt of certificates, etc., please email conferences@mimh.edu to notify UMSL | MIMH, Professional Training Center of your grievance. UMSL | MIMH, Professional Training Center CE Director, Kelly Gregory (kelly.gregory@mimh.edu ) and Social Work Consultant, Megan Galmiche (megan.galmiche@mimh.edu ) will review the grievance and will provide a response within 10 business days of communication. All grievances and actions taken to resolve the grievance will be documented, kept confidential, and only used to improve future courses.
Refund and/or Cancellation Requests:
If you are unable to attend and/or exhibit, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible at conferences@mimh.edu . Cancellations received in writing 5 business days prior for online programs, and 30 business days prior for in-person programs prior to the date of the program will be refunded, less a processing fee. For registrants, you may send a substitute, but we ask that you notify us in writing of this change at conferences@mimh.edu . If you do not attend or send a substitute, you or your employer will be responsible for the registration fee and/or exhibit fee in full.
Course Completion Requirements:
- Attend course
- Submit the online course evaluation
- Your CE Certificate will be available in your Canvas account upon submission of the course evaluation
Deadline to Register: Registrations may be taken up until one hour before the start of the program to allow for time to receive instructions and login.
System Requirements:
- An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (4G/LTE or 5G)
- Speakers and a microphone – built-in, USB plug-in, or wireless Bluetooth. Participants’ audio and video functionality will initially be off during the webinar. Participants may choose to turn on their own video and/or audio, but are not required to. Participants may type questions in the Q&A or Chat functions in Zoom. The host or speaker will read each question/comment and respond to them during the training.
- A webcam is not required for participants. Participants may choose to turn on their own video and/or audio, but are not required to. The speaker and the host will have their webcam and audio functionality turned on throughout the webinar, so you may see the speaker, host, and slides.
Certificate of Credit:
- Certificate of credit will be available in your Canvas account after the course evaluation has been submitted
- Save your certificate of credit and any pertinent course information (flyer, brochure, program, schedule, agenda, etc.) for your records
- UMSL | MIMH, Professional Training Center will maintain a record of your attendance and certificate of credit for seven years after program start date
Organization Responsible for Course:
UMSL | Missouri Institute of Mental Health, Professional Training Center
RCEW Building
8225 Florissant Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63121-2020
Website: www.mimhtraining.com
Contact Information: conferences@mimh.edu | 314-516-8419