Senior lecturer of the Department of Humanities and Psychology of Police Activities at DSUIA, Katerina Mitchenko, participated in a 5-day training for trainers titled “Preventing Suicide in Communities: Gatekeeper Training”.
During the sessions, participants explored topics related to psychosocial first aid, support, and crisis leadership. The goal of the training was not only to enhance qualifications but also to acquire comprehensive knowledge for conducting gatekeeper training – communication with individuals who have suicidal thoughts.
According to Katerina Mitchenko, research by domestic and international scholars indicates a worrying trend of increasing suicide rates under prolonged stress during times of war. Therefore, this problem requires immediate and comprehensive solutions, which involve not only the work of mental health professionals but also active participation from the community.
“Gatekeeper training is an important step in preventing suicides. Every person who possesses knowledge and skills in communicating with individuals suffering from suicidal thoughts is capable of saving lives,” stated the instructor.
The training was organized by the Akershus University Hospital (Norway) and the Mental Health Center of the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” as part of the project “Interagency Cooperation in Healthcare”.
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