Lifesavers Training Corporation

The LifeSavers Training Corporation training curriculum is now listed in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Registry of Best Practices for Suicide Prevention. The three-day training is a deeply moving and potentially life changing experience for students and adults. Retreats have been held annually since 1996, in 2020 and 2021 retreats were not held due to COVID. Throughout the training retreat, learning is supported through multi format presentations including lectures, role-playing, music, physical activity, written work, interactive experiences, and open discussions. The key to the LifeSavers training is deep listening skills and mutual respect. These caring teens develop their capabilities to listen carefully to their peers, make healthy decisions, cope with stress, promote loving communication with their families and others, and enhance their own self esteem in order to live happier, healthier, more productive, satisfying lives. Barriers of all sorts crumble as participants learn how much they share. Amazingly, the growth and commitment continue through the school year in monthly meetings designed by LifeSavers for LifeSavers as a means of enhancing their newly acquired listening skills and improving their school atmosphere. LifeSavers use the information and education to reach out to their peers and share their own cares and concerns with a responsible supportive group setting. Ultimately this program puts students in schools who now have the training and skills to be available for their peers who may be in crisis. Students considering suicide now have options - peers who are trained listeners that have a better understanding of potential warning signs and the understanding of the importance of utilizing local emergency contacts in a crisis situation.