Trainer calls crisis response plan "CPR for suicide," teaches direct questioning and lethal-means steps

Matt Ferguson, a chaplain and retired federal agent, led a community suicide-prevention training that he framed as "CPR for suicide," urging attendees to learn a brief crisis response plan and to ask directly when they notice warning signs. "Think of it as CPR for suicide," Ferguson said, arguing the plan is practical for non-clinicians and can reduce risk when followed.

Ferguson opened by describing the limits of referral-only approaches and cited large-scale figures to underscore the problem: "12,800,000 people have thought about suicide; 1,500,000 attempted suicide; 49,000 died by suicide," he said, noting those are clinical counts and arguing community action is required. He emphasized ambivalence — that people can both want to live and want to die — and said that asking plainly is crucial: "Have you been thinking of…