"For the past 15 years, my challenge is to find a speaker that can captivate the attention of college age students regarding mental illness and suicide. Jeff Yalden surpassed any expectations. I watched these students listen intently as they absorbed the reality of these topics. Jeff’s passion for this topic is contagious and this was evident when a line of students formed following the presentation to say thank you and ask questions. Jeff’s delivery commanded respect and admiration from all who attended. I highly recommend that Jeff be incorporated in any programs regarding the topic of mental illness and suicide."
— Nicole Ovedia, LCSW Licensed Psychotherapist Director of Lynn University Counseling Center
This material was developed by a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals, suicidologists, and me (Jeff Yalden). I developed this course to engage and deliver appropriately to school personnel, counselors, parents, teens, and youth.
With a lack of research in suicide today, teaching suicide prevention is a difficult challenge. However, we do know something about the nature of suicidal communications, about what causes people to become suicidal, and that suicidal individuals do respond to efforts to help them.
In my three decades of teen mental health in school communities I hear the anxiousness to learn about suicide and quick to acquire the necessary skills to make a potentially life-saving intervention.
Throughout this self-study guide, you will become familiar with the underlying philosophy of my suicide prevention programs and educational goals. It's a community-based, school-wide teachers, staff, students, parents, person-to-person approach with built-in evaluation and research methodologies.
Enjoy and please share with other school communities.
"Our community lost 9 people to suicide in less than a year, including 4 teens in 6 weeks. We reached out to Jeff Yalden and within days, Jeff was there to restore hope to a community lost in its search for meaning and understanding. Jeff Yalden's legacy will live on for years in our community."
- Brett Boggs, Retired Superintendent, Tippicanoe-Valley School Corporation, Akron, IN
