For decades, conversation around suicide prevention has been largely dominated by clinical procedures and emergency interventions. But Dr. Kent Corso, clinical psychologist and founder of Prosperthink it’s time to change this story and the responsibility of its membership: the community.
Dr. Corso, whose organization is closely associated with rural states such as Wyoming to train everyday citizens in the prevention and intervention of suicide based on evidence, is on a mission to fill the gap of 30 years between research and practice. “We spent half a century trying to apply a unique solution to a deeply personal and cultural problem,” said this behavior analyst certified by the board of directors. “And it doesn’t work.”
A key overview that Dr. Corso underlines is that suicide is not only a mental health problem. “This is a social problem,” he said. “People in distress are less likely to ask for help, especially in areas where it violates cultural norms.” In rural America, this often means men like breeders or farmers who are proud of autonomy and to help their neighbors, but who rarely, even ever, ask to help themselves.
This philosophy is both a challenge and an opportunity. “These are communities that may never enter a therapy office,” notes Dr. Corso. “But they will present themselves to a neighbor. This is where our work begins: allowing these neighbors to reduce risks.”
Access to access. In some rural areas, waiting time for a therapist or a psychiatrist may be months. Dr. Corso warns: “Nothing we are doing, perhaps in four months, will help someone in crisis today.”
But rather than seeing this as a dead end, Prosper together sees it as a call for action. The organization forms all the members of the community to recognize distress, to ask significant questions and to implement tools based on evidence such as plans of response to the crisis (SDRC). These simple but effective plans are personalized action plans that people can follow during moments of acute distress. When used in person, SDRC has been shown to reduce suicide attempts 76%. Even via telehentanAccording to a 2024 study, they can reduce the risk by 41%. “These are not complicated interventions. They are not familiar to the general public,” said Dr. Corso. “But anyone can learn them.” And that’s the point.
Dr. Corso maintains that the traditional suicide intervention model – when someone reports that they are in crisis and degenerate at the highest level of care – often does more harm than good. “We punish a research behavior with a” better than more sorry “approach and a broken system. People have such a negative experience that they will not speak the next time they are in distress,” he said.
Instead, he pleads for a long-standing approach: instill comfort, confidence and competence in the communities so that they can take care of themselves and the other. Prosper Together’s training programs systematically show that most participants report significant improvements in these three areas. “When people feel ready to help, they are more likely to help,” said Dr. Corso.
And the preparation does not require a diploma. “We don’t need more doctors,” he adds. “We need more neighbors.”
Another key problem that Dr. Corso highlights is the delay of several years between what research shows is effective and what is implemented in practice. Part of this delay stems from human nature. “The more you get your third cycle training, the more you derive from current research,” he explains. “Clinicians trust their anecdotal experience more than a study.”
Another reason? Fear. Dr. Corso shares: “Providers are afraid of losing their license, so they refer to it rather than solving it themselves. But that simply feeds the dysfunction of the system.” This extends to clinicians who do not ask each patient on suicidal history. He also explains: “They say that they are not sufficiently confident or trained. This is exactly what we are focusing on: training for comfort, confidence and competence.”
Progress occurs, although slowly. The Missouri was the first state to officially recognize mental health in its law of the good Samaritan. From now on, Wyoming leads as the second state which declared mental health emergencies, including suicide, just as important as physical emergencies. “This legitimizes mental health and empowers citizens,” said Dr. Corso. “It encourages people to act and lets them know that they are allowed to help.”
He compares this change to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCR): 65% Americans have been trained there, even if it is barely effective outside of hospital circles. Meanwhile, something like a CRP, which can reduce suicide attempts by more than 70%, remains relatively unknown to the public. Dr. Corso also declares: “Let us form people to do what works. Meet people where they are, in their culture, their values and their communities. This is how we reduce the risk. This is how we change the trajectory.”
Only one question, asked at the right time, can make the difference between another tragedy and another chance.
