Connecting to Resources for Mental Health Programming
Leah Langby
January 31, 2025
Keeping Up With Kids

I had a heart-breaking conversation with a library director this week who was reeling from a two recent local deaths from suicide, and looking for resources for potential programming to help her community address significant mental health concerns.  Lots of communities are facing this crisis, and I thought that some of the information I gathered for her might be useful to others.

In addition I want to call attention to the Winter Wellness Fair that the River Falls Public Library developed, which included the panel presentation “Empowering Student Well-being: Insights from the Front Lines of School Mental Health.”   You can watch it here on the Library’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdUWItnJIHQ

Other organizations you can partner with for potential programming:

NAMI Wisconsin: 

QPR/Suicide Prevention:

  • Question, Persuade, Refer is a 1-hour evidence-based suicide prevention training You can find QPR instructors near you on the site:  https://qprinstitute.com/.  There are quite a few in our area.  IFLS hosted a QPR training for library staff several years ago.
  • To find other potential local partners, check out Prevent Suicide Wisconsin

Mental Health First Aid

 

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