Minnesota agencies add more seminars on suicide preventionMinnesota agencies add more seminars on suicide prevention

Due to high demand, the Minnesota departments of agriculture and health are adding more dates and locations to their free safeTALK suicide prevention seminars.

New sessions are:

Remaining sessions previously scheduled are:

The free half-day safeTALK training is designed to help people build the skills they need to offer help for those who are thinking of suicide. The training teaches participants how to recognize someone having thoughts of suicide, how to engage them and how to make sure they get help.

Organizers say the training is effective for people as young as 15 years old.

Farmers, lenders, mediators, agency staff, clergy, educators, veterinarians, health care and social service providers, agricultural advisors, and business people are all invited to attend.

"Unfortunately, farming communities experience more than their share of suicide,” says Thom Petersen, MDA commissioner. “We want people to know what they can do to help when they see warning signs.”

The trainings run 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and require preregistration. Enrollment is limited at each session to 30 participants.

Source: MDA, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.