Dr. Larry Berkowitz, Co-Founder and Director of Riverside Trauma Center for 19 years, leads SOS for School Staff: Gatekeeper Training for the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
HOLYOKE — Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) sponsored a professional development training on Tuesday to help educators recognize and respond to signs of suicide risk among students.
The three-hour, in-person seminar, “SOS for School Staff – Gatekeeper Training,” was held at the Massachusetts Police Training Council (MPTC) Police Academy in Holyoke. The seminar brought together more than 70 school psychologists, social workers, counselors and administrators from 39 school districts across Massachusetts.
The session was led by Dr. Larry Berkowitz, Co-Founder and Director of the Riverside Trauma Center for 19 years.
The training focused on building participants’ skills to identify warning signs of suicide and connect students to qualified support staff. Through videos of real-world discussions and stories from teens, as well as clinician-guided instruction, attendees learned:
- How to recognize warning signs and risk factors for suicide in children and teens
- How to engage in appropriate and caring conversations with students
- Steps for keeping a student safe while ensuring they receive professional help
Dr. Berkowitz also shared stories and lessons from his extensive experience providing trauma response and suicide prevention services to youth, adults, and families across the Commonwealth.
Melissa O’Neill, Psy.D., Supervisor of Clinical and Behavioral Services for the Springfield Public Schools said, “This MPY training with Dr. Berkowitz was incredibly relevant and engaging. I appreciated the research-supported discussion and focus on practical strategies for school staff. I am excited to bring the best practices in risk and protective factors back to my district. The messaging is directly relevant for all members of our school community.”
Dr. Berkowitz has more than 30 years of clinical experience and 25 years of leadership in mental health services. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and previously served on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s task force on the needs of those bereaved by suicide. He earned his doctoral degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard University and is a licensed Psychologist in Massachusetts.
“Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is proud to provide educators and school mental health staff with high-quality training opportunities that strengthen their ability to identify students in crisis and connect them with the help they need,” said MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels.
About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth. MPY programming reaches nearly 6,000 educators per year in Massachusetts, spread across approximately 300 districts, with more than 190 webinars and over a dozen conferences and seminars.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission. To learn more, visit: massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com.
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Participants at the MPY training included school psychologists, social workers, counselors and administrators from 39 school districts across Massachusetts. Pictured here (names not in order): MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels, Dr. Larry Berkowitz, Laura Lillibridge (Quaboag), Steve Magno (Peabody), Eric Tracey (Northbridge), Lorinda Allen (Northbridge), Katherine Lebherz (Falmouth) and Fran Frederick (Belchertown). (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
Dr. Larry Berkowitz leads “SOS for School Staff: Gatekeeper Training” for the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth on Tuesday. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
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