Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for Senior Centers

After reading this document, readers will be able to:

• Understand the serious risk suicide poses to older adults, as well as the risk factors and protective factors that come into play
• Name the three key strategies senior center staff and volunteers can use to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among older adults
• Give examples of different ways senior centers can promote emotional health
• Give examples of activities and programs that improve and/or develop protective factors among seniors
• Give examples of activities and programs that help seniors to develop social connections
• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Know how to develop a protocol for dealing with any suspected suicide risks that may come to the attention of the senior center
• Explain the actions that should be taken when someone is at immediate risk of suicide, as well as when an individual is exhibiting signs of a less immediate risk
• Recognize and describe the most common symptoms of depression
• Respond properly to a suicide attempt or death