Staten Island trains workers to spot suicide and overdose risks at the same time

Staten Island is tackling two big problems—overdose deaths and suicide—by teaching frontline workers how to handle both at once. Around 300 people have already gone through a six-part training that mixes mental health and drug-use screening. The idea is to catch warning signs early, whether someone is thinking about self-harm or struggling with substance use, before either situation turns deadly. Why would a program combine these two issues? Because they often happen together. Studies show that people with mental health struggles are much more likely to also deal with addiction. But too many workers in health care, law enforcement, and social services aren’t trained to handle both at the same time. The training fixes that gap by using proven methods to screen people, create safety plans, and reduce access to lethal means. The push started with local leaders and health experts who noticed families in Staten Island were being hit hard by both crises. One official pointed out how long mental health has been ignored or treated as something shameful. Now, the training is part of a bigger plan to improve behavioral health for young people in the borough. Still, only 26 people have finished all six sessions so far, showing there’s room to get more workers involved.The program mixes two well-known approaches into one. That way, whether someone is at risk of an overdose or suicide, the worker knows how to respond. Early numbers show most sessions had between 150 and 200 people, meaning interest is there—but keeping them engaged long-term is the next challenge. Funding came from a big federal grant meant for suicide prevention projects. The money helps pay for training and brings experts from places like Columbia University to lead the sessions. Trainers say the best part is seeing people from different fields—therapists, cops, social workers—all learning together. One leader called it meaningful because it gives workers the confidence to ask tough questions instead of avoiding them. The bigger picture? Staten Island is trying something new by treating these two crises as connected. The hope is that workers will take what they learn back into their jobs and help more people before it’s too late.