Grant awarded for suicide prevention

BISMARCK (AP) — A Minot State University center has been given a grant to provide high school teachers with training in spotting students who are at risk of suicide.

The grant is coming from North Dakota’s Department of Human Services. Center director Brent Askvig says North Dakota has a high rate of young people who attempt suicide or think about it.

Askvig said the training will use an online role-playing computer simulation called “Kognito.” He said it will help teachers spot troubled students and refer them to counseling.

The system is to be introduced later this month and the rollout will continue during the next school year.

Askvig is director of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State.

Tags: north dakota, updates, news, suicide, education