Governor Gordon Announces March Suicide Prevention Training Schedule

Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) praised the more than 3,000 Wyomingites statewide who have taken suicide awareness and prevention trainings through the WY We Care Initiative’s Prosper Wyoming. The Governor noted that while the state’s suicide rate has significantly reduced since 2021, he expressed need for greater citizen participation and announced a series of FREE PROSPER Wyoming trainings offered online (statewide) and in-person in Casper and Rock Springs this month.

“I am grateful to the people who have trained and are now able to confidently provide care to loved ones, friends, work colleagues, and students. Yet as long as people are dying by suicide, we absolutely must pull together and expand our efforts to stop it,” Governor Gordon said. “Learning how to talk about suicide and knowing the steps these trainings provide, has proven valuable in mitigating risk.”

The trainings are offered in person and online, and range in length from 90 minutes to six hours.  Of note, there will be a March 12 Casper training specifically designed for faith community members and leadership.

“Church friends and congregation leaders are often the very first that people turn to in times of crisis. We are hopeful the Casper In-Faith training will be well attended. Having members of our faith communities prepared is essential,” Governor Gordon said.

Suicide is often as much a social issue as a clinical issue. Many experience suicidal thoughts without a mental health diagnosis. The six-hour WY We Care PROSPER In-Faith training is designed to equip congregation leaders and community members with the practical, evidence-based skills necessary to recognize risk, respond with compassion, and support safety while honoring faith, values, and dignity.   

“The PROSPER Wyoming program has proven to be a tremendous resource for suicide prevention training and support when suicide occurs. Our congregation is grateful that this program was made available. Through our church we strive to build spiritual strength and that is coupled with temporal and mental well-being.  This program helped us strengthen emotional and mental health by providing tools and information on how to deal with the difficulties of suicide,” said Benjamin Brewster, Stake President at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Rock Springs.

In addition to trainings offered by the WY We Care Initiative, The Wyoming Department of Health’s (WDH) Injury and Violence Prevention Program (WIVPP) provides free trainings to all Wyoming Citizens to participate in the Wyoming Alliance for Suicide Prevention.  In the coming year, the WIVPP will directly engage members of faith communities as essential partners in the comprehensive approach to whole community suicide prevention.