SPARK Trainings & Presentations

Equipping East Texas to Save Lives

SPARK provides evidence-based training and engaging presentations to equip faith communities, first responders, healthcare professionals, educators, mental health providers, and community members with the tools to prevent suicide and promote mental wellness.

Our trainings are available to individuals, churches, schools, agencies, and organizations across East Texas.

Available Trainings

🕊️ ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

2-Day Workshop
ASIST is the world’s leading suicide intervention training. This highly interactive workshop teaches participants how to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and how to create a collaborative safety plan to keep them safe.

Who should attend: Anyone in a helping role — pastors, teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, counselors, and community members.

What you will learn:
✅ Identifying suicide risk
✅ How to ask about suicide
✅ SafeTALK principles
✅ Collaborative safety planning
✅ Connecting to ongoing care

🕊️ CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)

3-4 Hour Workshop
CALM teaches how to reduce access to lethal means (especially firearms and medications) for individuals at risk of suicide — a key evidence-based prevention strategy.

Who should attend: Mental health providers, pastors, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, peer specialists, and family members.

What you will learn:
✅ Understanding the role of lethal means in suicide deaths
✅ How to engage in conversations about safety and means reduction
✅ Practical tools for families and caregivers
✅ Connecting individuals to resources

🕊️ AS+K (Ask, Support, Know)

1.5-2 Hour Gatekeeper Training
AS+K equips participants to become suicide prevention gatekeepers — able to recognize warning signs and take immediate steps to support a person in crisis.

Who should attend: Anyone in the community — perfect for church staff and volunteers, youth leaders, educators, workplace leaders, and civic groups.

What you will learn:
✅ How to recognize warning signs of suicide
✅ How to ask directly about suicide
✅ How to offer support and hope
✅ How to connect to help and follow up

🕊️ SUD & Suicide Prevention Trainings

Length varies by presentation / audience
SPARK provides specialized training on the intersection of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and suicide risk. These sessions are tailored for both behavioral health professionals and faith-based/community audiences.

Topics may include:
✅ The strong link between SUD and suicide
✅ Breaking cycles of shame and stigma
✅ Integrated prevention and treatment pathways
✅ Faith-based and community strategies for support
✅ Postvention for overdose loss survivors

🕊️ Other Presentations & Custom Trainings

SPARK can also provide custom presentations and workshops on a range of topics related to suicide prevention, mental health, and resilience building.
Common topics include:
✅ Suicide prevention for faith communities
✅ Postvention best practices (CARES model)
✅ Suicide prevention for first responders (SHIELD)
✅ Supporting healthcare professionals after suicide/traumatic loss (RESUS)
✅ SUD and suicide prevention
✅ Building trauma-informed churches
✅ Community mental wellness & resilience

Request a Training

SPARK offers trainings throughout East Texas and can bring a workshop or presentation to your:

  • Church

  • School

  • Agency

  • Hospital

  • Community group

  • Conference

Become a SPARK Hub

Expand the Reach of Suicide Prevention in Your Community

A SPARK Hub is a church, organization, or agency that formally partners with SPARK to serve as a local center for suicide prevention awareness, training, and support in their community.

SPARK Hubs play a vital role in spreading life-saving knowledge and fostering a culture of hope across East Texas.

What Does a SPARK Hub Do?

✅ Hosts suicide prevention trainings (ASIST, CALM, AS+K, SUD-focused trainings, Faith Connect presentations, or custom trainings)
✅ Promotes awareness within their church/organization and community
✅ Serves as a point of connection — helping individuals and families find hope and resources
✅ Engages in ongoing learning through SPARK’s Faith Connect calls and Hub partner updates
✅ Supports postvention efforts (such as CARES outreach) in collaboration with SPARK when appropriate

Why Become a SPARK Hub?

By becoming a SPARK Hub, your church or organization can:

  • Help save lives in your community

  • Equip leaders and members to support those at risk

  • Break stigma around mental health and suicide

  • Be a visible beacon of hope for families in crisis

  • Join a growing regional movement uniting faith, community, and care for suicide prevention

What Is Required to Be a SPARK Hub?

✅ A commitment from your leadership to promote awareness and hope around suicide prevention
✅ Willingness to host at least one SPARK training or event per year (can be small or large!)
✅ Participation in Faith Connect calls and Hub partner communications
✅ Support SPARK’s messaging and resource sharing in your congregation/organization

There is no cost to become a SPARK Hub — your willingness to partner and promote this mission is the heart of it.

To request more information or if you have questions, please complete the form below.