If you have been called on to develop or expand a suicide prevention program in a state or community, and you want it to have maximum impact, then this course may be for you. A Strategic Planning Approach to Suicide Prevention can help you identify activities that will be effective in addressing the problem of suicide and help you prioritize your efforts. To bring the approach to life, this training presents a case study that illustrates how a community task force applies the strategic planning process to their work.

This 2 hour course teaches you to:

• Describe the suicide problem and its context.
• Choose long-term goals for a suicide prevention program.
• Identify key risk and protective factors to focus on.
• Select or develop interventions to decrease or increase these risk and protective factors.
• Plan an evaluation.
• Implement the interventions and the evaluation.
• Take further action based on the evaluation.

This course is open to anyone and can be completed in approximately two or three hours. You do not have to complete the course in one session. You can exit the course at any time and return later to the place where you left off. 

SPRC is not a crisis center. If you are thinking of hurting yourself, or if you are concerned that someone you know may be suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by phone 1-800-273-TALKCall: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), under Grant No. 1H79SM083028. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this product do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS.

 Certificate of Completion

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Join us for the first offering in this informative pharmacology course series. This course will explore the pharmacology of alcohol. The presenter will cover how alcohol addiction impacts major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with alcohol use. Specific features of alcohol dependence and withdrawal will be discussed. Additionally, we will discuss alcohol use during pregnancy and the categories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define alcohol addiction and list the components that influence stigma.
2. Describe the acute and chronic effects of alcohol use.

Course developed by the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) with support from SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement Number is: # H79SP080995-01

1.5 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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This 1.5 hours course provides an overview of a policy framework adopted and modified by the Southeast PTTC - The Policy Adoption Model. Prevention providers will follow the path of a fictitious prevention coalition as they develop and implement a local policy campaign. 

Developed by the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

Certificate of Completion

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As we plan and work toward improving the overall wellness of the communities we serve, it is important that we understand the social determinants of health (SDOH). The SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Understanding SDOH and how prevention work intersects with them is essential to providing a comprehensive approach in your community. In this course you will have the opportunity to examine the SDOH and how prevention professionals can use this framework in developing innovative prevention strategies and build partnerships across multiple disciplines in your community.

The course consists of an interactive content module and a completion quiz. It is estimated that the course may take up to 1 hour to complete.

This course was developed by the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and covers the HHS Region 5(IN, IL, MI, MN, OH, WI).

Certificate of Completion Available

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This 2-hour eLearning training offers experienced prevention professionals an in-depth exploration of the role of ethics in substance misuse prevention work. The course includes a brief overview of basic  ethical concepts and then explores some of the pertinent issues in prevention ethics. It also provides expanded opportunities to apply a decision-making model to challenge ethical issues.

This e-learning course was adapted by the Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Center (PTTC), a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); grant no. H79SP080971.

Certificate of Completion Available

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This course, developed by the Southeast PTTC, provides an overview of how policy change can be an effective strategy for prevention professionals to address community-level problems with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The goal of the course is to dispel some of the concerns around policy and help community coalitions and partners see that it is feasible, do-able and most importantly, impactful.

Developed by the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center at Wake Forest School of Medicine.  

1.0 Hour Certificate Available

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In this interactive course, you will learn how the principles, tools, and approaches to continuous quality improvement (CQI) can optimize their prevention work. The course explores how to incorporate the key tools of CQI – including the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle– into all phases of your prevention work to ensure your programs are efficient and effective. 

The course consists of an interactive content module and a completion quiz. It is estimated that the course may take up to 2 hours to complete.

This course was developed by the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and covers the HHS Region 5 (IN, IL, MI, MN, OH, WI).

Certificate of Completion Available

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Join us for the fourth and final offering in our pharmacology course series. This course will explore the pharmacology of cannabis. The presenter will cover how cannabis addiction impacts major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with cannabis use. Specific features of cannabis dependence and withdrawal will be discussed specifically symptoms that occur when a person is discontinuing its use.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define addiction and how it impacts regions of the brain.
2. Describe the acute and chronic effects of cannabis use and withdrawal.

Course developed by the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) with support from SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement Number is: # H79SP080995-01

1.5 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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This course will explore the pharmacology of opioids. The presenter will cover how opioid addiction impacts major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with opioid use. Specific features of opioid dependence and withdrawal will be discussed specifically symptoms that occur when a person is discontinuing their use.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define addiction and how it impacts regions of the brain.
2. Describe the acute and chronic effects of opioid use and withdrawal.

Course developed by the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) with support from SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement Number is: # H79SP080995-01

1.5 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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Join us for the third offering in our pharmacology course series. This course will explore the pharmacology of psychostimulants with a focus on cocaine and methamphetamines. The presenter will cover how psychostimulant addiction impacts major brain regions and the acute and chronic symptoms associated with cocaine and methamphetamine use. Specific features of psychostimulant dependence and withdrawal will be discussed specifically symptoms that occur when a person is discontinuing their use.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Define addiction and how it impacts regions of the brain.
2. Describe the acute and chronic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine use and withdrawal.

Course developed by the Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) with support from SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement Number is: # H79SP080995-01

1.5 Hour Certificate of Completion Available

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This 1.5 hour course is designed to educate employers and employees about mental health and substance use issues that may arise in the workplace and how to manage them. It is not designed for the mental health professional, and this series does not train the viewer to diagnose, only to recognize and respond. Behavioral health and substance use are common occurrences. Everyone in the workplace can make an impact by learning more about these conditions, working to reduce stigma, and learning how to talk to a coworker who might be struggling and help them to access supportive resources.

This presentation was prepared for the Mid-America Addiction Technology Center (Mid-America ATTC), Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America MHTTC), and the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America PTTC) under a cooperative agreement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Certificate of Completion Available

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Suicide is a leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Native people. This 1.5 hour training will help you build your knowledge of Indigenous people and learn to balance that knowledge with an understanding that there is always more to learn. Using education, interactive scenarios, and knowledge checks, this course will help you understand how to better support Indigenous individuals in crisis.

Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the strengths of Indigenous communities
• Clarify common assumptions and misconceptions about Native people and communities
• Identify resources and supports for Native people in crisis

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), under Grant No. 1H79SM083028. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this product do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS.

Certificate of Completion Available

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Data collection is a critical and ongoing component of prevention, especially when following a data- informed evidence-based process like SAMHSA’ s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) . Data are relevant in some way to every step of the SPF. The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency created many  challenges in implementing effective prevention, including data collection. While much of our work in prevention has returned to pre-pandemic approaches, there are some advantages to online data collection methods and it is worth considering when collecting data virtually might better meet data  collection needs.

This 1.5 hour self-paced online course will provide a general overview of evaluation and best pra ctices for collecting primary data virtually , focusing on both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.  The course will review online surveys, including surveys with youth and ethical considerations; focus groups and listening sessions; interv iews; and other methods. The course will use case study examples and provide additional resources.

The Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) developed this course with support from SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through SAMHSA Cooperative Agreement #H79SP081015-01. 

Certificate of Completion Available

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By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the Best Practices Registry's impact on suicide prevention efforts and the support it provides to professionals and communities working to implement evidence-based suicide prevention practices.
• Use critical thinking to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Best Practices Registry applications. This includes applying cultural humility best practices and considering and valuing Indigenous ways of knowing (e.g., traditional Tribal values and methods, ceremonies, and ways of life that reflect the innate protective factors of a Tribe or group) to create an equitable review process.
• Navigate the review of a Best Practices Registry application and apply this knowledge to a simulated application scenario.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), under Grant No. 1H79SM083028. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this product do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS.

Certificate of Completion Available

Note: This is a private course requiring and enrollment key provided by the hosting organization.

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Cannabis Pharmacology for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners is a 4.5 hour self-paced course that provides important information on what prevention professionals need to know about cannabis. Dr. Hayden Center presents the following 3-part series:

• The Effects of Cannabis
• Cannabis and the Adolescent Brain
• Cannabis Pharmacology

The ideal audience for this training is prevention organizations/coalitions and the prevention professionals serving at the local, state, regional and/or national levels that would like to learn and/or review updated and science-based information on cannabis to be better equipped to serve their communities.This can include coalition members, agencies, sector representatives and partners, volunteer staff, and other key partners, stakeholders, and collaborators. This training can also be appropriate for the broader public, with interest in the role cannabis policies is impacting, informing, influencing and shaping changes in their communities.

This training was developed by the PTTC Cannabis Prevention Working Group, with special support from the New England PTTC (1 H79 SP081020-01).

About the PTTC Cannabis Prevention Working Group:The mission of the PTTC Network Cannabis Prevention Work Group is to develop training and technical assistance tools, products, and service, related specifically to cannabis risk education and prevention, that can be deployed across the nation.

Certificate of Completion Available

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Note: Enrollment for this course has been removed. The course will close on 10/1/25. You can find this course or similar Here.

School educators and personnel participating in the School Technical Assistance Opportunity:  Classroom WISE (Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators) is a 5-hour, self-paced, educator mental health literacy course, developed by the MHTTC Network, in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health. It presents concrete, universal approaches to promoting student mental health and creating safe and supportive classroom environments, describes student behaviors that may indicate a mental health concern, and provides specific skills and strategies to engage and support students with mental health concerns. Modules average about 50 minutes each (50x6= 300 min= 5 hours). This course includes a high-impact video series and resource collection also available on our website, www.classroomwise.org.

Welcome to the State of Maryland version of Classroom WISE (Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators) self-paced online training, developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health. If you are NOT from the state of Maryland, access the regular Classroom WISE online course here.

Classroom WISE presents concrete, universal approaches to promoting student mental health and creating safe and supportive classroom environments, describes student behaviors that may indicate a mental health concern, and provides specific skills and strategies to engage and support students with mental health concerns. This course includes a high-impact video series and resource collection also available on our website, www.classroomwise.org. Module 4 of this Classroom WISE online training satisfies the Behavioral Health component (one of two components) of the COMAR legislative mandate 13.A.07.11 Student Suicide Prevention and Safety Training in the state of Maryland. In order to satisfy the Behavioral Health component of COMAR 13A.07.11, you must complete the Introduction and Module 4 (including the Module 4 quiz with a passing score of 80%). You will then receive a Certificate of Completion for 1 contact hour. This is the only module required to meet the Behavioral Health training requirement of the COMAR regulation for certificated staff. However, if you are interested, you may complete the entire Classroom WISE course (6 modules, including Module 4) and the module quizzes with a passing score of 80% to receive a 5-contact hour Certificate of Completion.

Coalitions are essential to substance misuse prevention efforts. It is important to understand and implement research-based best practices for coalition functioning, structure, membership, and leadership.  Take this course to uncover a deeper understanding of how and why we use coalitions and to increase knowledge about research-based best practices for coalitions.

The course consists of an interactive content module and a completion quiz. It is estimated that the course may take up to 2 hours to complete.

This course was developed by the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center, which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and covers the HHS Region 5 (IN, IL, MI, MN, OH, WI).

Certificate of Completion Available

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This 30-minute course prepares the learner to effectively engage with clients who are experiencing a crisis.  Participants will learn to:

• Recognize risk and early warning signs of crisis
• Use positive behavior supports to prevent crisis and promote health and safety
• Use appropriate and approved intervention approaches to resolve a crisis through the use of de-escalation techniques
• Seek help from other staff or services when needed during and after a crisis and knows de-escalation techniques
• Monitor situations and communicate with the client and his or her family and support team to reduce risk
• Report incidents according to policies and procedures 
• See own potential role within a conflict or crisis and changes behavior to minimize conflict
• Create an individualized crisis prevention plan per agency policy and procedures

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

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This is the first course in a two-part course series. Participants will learn about the importance of gathering data for assessment and evaluation and you will learn about the types of data to gather. Key risk and protective factors associated with substance use and mental health are discussed. The course explores existing sources of data, assessment of data gaps, and options for collecting primary data at the local level.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have learned about: 

1. Key risk and protective factors to assess at the individual, family, peer, school, and community levels;
2. Sources of existing data on risk and protective factors; 
3. Strategies for developing a data collection plan in order to address data gaps at the local level.

This course was developed by the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center. 

1 Hour Certificate Available

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During this second course in the two-part online course series, you will learn about data quality and quantity – having enough data, and having the right data. Processes for prioritizing risk and protective factors to determine which to address with prevention efforts are explored, and examples are shared. This course will conclude with recommendations for ongoing monitoring to inform evaluation efforts.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have learned about: 

1. Tips for assessing the quality and quantity of the data they’ve gathered to determine readiness for prioritization and planning;
2. Prioritization processes, including how to format your data; prioritization dimensions to consider, and tips for making the process interactive and engaging, and
3. The importance of ongoing data gathering and collection in order to evaluate local prevention efforts.

This course was developed by the Pacific Southwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center. 

1 Hour Certificate Available

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