Training for K-12 Schools
Connect offers evidence-informed training and support tailored to the unique needs of K–12 schools. Our programs empower school staff, administrators, and high school students to prevent suicide, respond compassionately and effectively to suicide-related crises, and foster a culture of mental wellness and connection.
All Connect trainings can be adapted to fit your school’s schedule, audience, and goals. Whether your school is building a new initiative or strengthening existing efforts, Connect helps foster a safer, more supportive environment for students and staff.
How K-12 School Communities Benefit from Connect Training and Services
Training for School Staff
Our adult-focused trainings equip educators, school counselors, administrators, school resource officers, and support staff to recognize suicide risk, respond appropriately, and collaborate effectively across roles. Here's how:
Connect Suicide Prevention & Intervention Training
Teaches school personnel to recognize warning signs, engage in conversations with students at risk, and connect them to help. Based on a public health approach and the socio-ecological model, the training emphasizes coordination within the school and with community partners.
Connect Postvention Training
Helps schools prepare for, and respond to, a suicide death or other traumatic loss within the school community. Participants learn how to reduce risk, promote healing, and work with community systems to ensure a coordinated, compassionate response.
Facilitated Prevention and Postvention Response Planning
Connect staff offer expert guidance to help schools develop or strengthen a comprehensive suicide prevention or postvention response plan, tailored to the school community’s needs and resources.
Foundational & Specialized Training Series
NAMI NH offers a range of topic-specific workshops that can be delivered as standalone sessions or as part of a broader training plan. These sessions are shorter in length than the Connect standard training series and vary in focus, allowing schools to address specific needs such as risk assessment, staff self-care, or effective communication after a suicide-related event.
Train-the-Trainer Program
Selected school staff can become authorized Connect trainers, building in-house capacity to deliver ongoing suicide prevention and postvention training—sustainably and at no additional cost for two years.
Consultation Services
Connect offers expert consultation to support schools in strengthening suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention practices. This may include reviewing policies and protocols, supporting multidisciplinary team development, or offering guidance after a suicide-related crisis.
eLearning: Self-Paced Online Training
For added flexibility, Connect provides self-paced online courses that allow school staff to access high-quality suicide prevention training anytime, anywhere. These eLearning options are ideal for onboarding new staff, refreshing skills, meeting mandatory training requirements, or accommodating busy schedules. The Suicide Prevention for School Personnel course is available in both English and Spanish.
Training for Students: Connect Youth Leader Suicide Prevention Program
This youth empowerment program prepares high school students to co-facilitate suicide prevention training alongside trained adults for their peers and school community. Here's how:
High School students learn to recognize signs of suicide risk, reduce stigma, and promote help-seeking behavior.
Connect staff guide Youth Leaders through interactive activities, rehearsal, and coaching to build confidence and skill before they share the Connect Youth Leader curriculum with their peers and adults in the school community.
Schools receive access to Connect to ACTION!, a flexible framework to sustain student-led prevention efforts long after the initial training—grounded in collaboration, leadership, and best practices. This framework can also be used as a building block for an Extended Learning Opportunity for interested and motivated students.
NAMI NH is currently in the process of developing a version of the Connect Youth Leader Program for middle school students.
Visit the Services page for more information on the recommended training an service options.
Youth-Serving Organizations Trained in Connect
Hear About the Connect Experience
Since the Connect training, I’ve seen expanded open discussion regarding suicide prevention, a common acceptance and embracing of the prevention programs and supports that are being offered, and better community collaboration with local hospital, fire and police, community mental health, as well as the family resource centers in our communities.
Some of my student Connect Youth Leaders have graduated from high school and have decided to pursue mental health or education as a direct result of the work that they have been able to do through the Connect program.
The Connect model provides schools and communities with a framework to start addressing postvention needs.
Since we started hosting the training, I see the change in awareness, education, and interest in knowing what the stigma is, knowing what the signs are, and knowing how to make a difference in someone else’s life and your own.
Training for Students FAQs
The program accommodates up to 30 students and 15 adults, who will co-lead future trainings.
At least 2 adults should be trained along with a minimum of 6 students to ensure program sustainability.
Yes, parental permission is required. Schools/organizations are responsible for obtaining and managing permission forms, using either the provided template or their own form.
Costs vary based on factors like training format, location, number of participants, and required materials. The range for Connect Youth Leader is $2,500 - $7,000 (based on 2025 rates and subject to change). Your cost will be based on the level of service and factors related to the delivery of the service. Contact us for a cost quote via our Contact Us form or email info@theconnectprogram.org.
Yes, we can adjust quotes, contracts, or invoices to meet specific requirements. Let us know your needs, and we’ll work with you to meet them.
Graduates cannot use the curriculum or materials after graduating. It is recommended that each school program train a cohort of new students within their school each year to replace graduating Youth Leaders and ensure sustainability for the program.
If an adult co-leader leaves, they are no longer authorized to use the curriculum or materials outside the district where they were trained.
The program is designed for high school students, but younger students may participate if they are mature, interested, and able to commit. Discuss with your NAMI NH Connect Trainer before inviting middle school students.
No, adults can be volunteers, parents, PTA members, or community leaders, as long as they are screened and approved by the school. They should be experienced with youth and committed to the program.
Youth Leaders can train within their own school district. They can collaborate with Youth Leaders from other districts for joint events but cannot train an audience of only students from another district.
Yes! The program is available to organizations like YMCAs, summer camps, and community youth groups that want to engage in suicide prevention.
Yes! You can host Day 2 training for a mix of youth and adults to build interest in a future Youth Leader program. Contact us to explore this option.
Fill out our interest form, and we'll reach out with more details. You can also check out our recorded Youth Leader Program Overview presentation on our eLearning platform.
Students who’ve recently lost someone to suicide may find suicide prevention training difficult. We ask that you speak with the NAMI NH Connect Trainer assigned to your event to assess their readiness and appropriateness for the training.
