REACH training big success for UNL community

The suicide prevention training program was started at Ohio State, and they're currently the only other campus using the program.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – REACH training is based on five points, the points that form the “REACH” acronym, to help people identify and reduce the risk of suicide. That goal is reinforced by their main message: suicide is preventable.

While that three-word statement is behind everything the REACH program stands for, it includes much more than that. Going back to the name, each letter signifies a portion of the suicide prevention process. R: recognize warning signs. E: engage with empathy. A: ask directly about suicide. C: communicate hope. H: help suicidal individuals to access care and treatment.

Suicide Prevention Coordinator Abbey Ragain says, “A big part of the training, too, is decreasing the stigma around mental health issues and suicide; destigmatizing asking for help. We emphasize a culture of caring on our campus.”

The students, as well as faculty and staff, who have gone through the training certainly show off that culture of caring.

REACH trainer Emma Farson is one such person, and she describes her motivation: “Just being able to see those students thrive and grow. They started at a point here, and for me to be able to give them those resources and to get up here and just to help them get there, and offer that support system, and offer that advice, and give them all of the information about on- and off-campus resources was really inspiring.”

In the past semester alone, almost 550 people have gone through the 90-minute training process. Why it’s taking off in such a big way right now isn’t entirely clear.

“A lot of people say that they’ve been touched by suicide or really that they want to learn how to help talk to their friends about these issues”, Ragain says. “We will note something about the pandemic and there will be a nod of heads, so I think we can make some assumptions there.”

Whatever the reason, it is clear that REACH is making a big impact. You can learn all about the steps UNL is taking to fight suicide at the REACH website.