Listening for Life: Motivational Interviewing for Suicide Crisis Support

Course overview

This course provides helpline workers with foundational skills in Motivational Interviewing (MI) to support individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. Participants will explore how MI principles can be applied to foster hope, strengthen a person's intrinsic motivation for change and navigate ambivalence about living. Through a mix of didactic instruction, role-plays and practical exercises, the course helps attendees build confidence in using MI techniques to engage callers effectively, honor their autonomy and guide them toward life-affirming decisions. Objectives: After completing this course, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the core principles of Motivational Interviewing and explain their relevance to suicide prevention conversations. 2. Identify and respond to "change talk" and "sustain talk" in the context of ambivalence about living. 3. Demonstrate key MI skills, including open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summarizations (OARS) to engage callers struggling with suicidal ideation in a compassionate and supportive manner.