VitalCog in Construction (VC-C) Gatekeeper Certification Course
Multiple course dates offered (see details below)
1.5 hours per course

Virtual (via Zoom) | Each course limited to 30 participants

*Registration for each course closes 2 days prior to the course date*

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $256,219.00 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the US Government.

Course dates offered (choose 1 of the dates to attend; all sessions are virtual):

• December 3, 2026 from 12pm to 1:30pm CT
• January 2027 (date and time TBD)
• February 2027 (date and time TBD)
• March 2027 (date and time TBD)
• April 2027 (date and time TBD)

CE/CEU credits included: 1.5 credit hours available for some disciplines (see below for approval details). You must attend at least 90% of the live workshop and be in a space where you can interact on camera.

• This webinar will NOT be recorded.
• Partial continuing education credits are not awarded.

Format: Live, interactive virtual workshop via Zoom (we will be using breakout rooms, so please view this course in a place where you can be visible on camera)

Investment: This course is FREE if you meet at least one of the following criteria (enter RHTP100 at checkout to register for free):

1. You are a rural or Tribal North Dakota resident (i.e., live anywhere in North Dakota EXCEPT for Fargo, West Fargo, Grand Forks, or Bismarck); OR
   
   
2. 50% of the clients that you serve or people you employ are rural or Tribal North Dakota Residents

If you do not meet criteria for free registration, the registration fee is $35+ sales tax

• Priority registration is given to those meeting criteria for free registration if the course is near registration limits (30 participants).

Instructors: Kathryn Lang, PhD, LP and Kristin Hoff, PsyD, LP, CMPC (see bios below)

Abstract:

The construction industry has one of the highest rates of death by suicide in the US (Sussell et al., 2023). Gatekeeper training training assists workforce members with identifying and responding to early signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use concern. Gatekeeper training improves self-efficacy, increases confidence to help, and reduces anxiety when providing assistance (Hallett et al., 2024; Litteken & Sale, 2018; Mishkind et al., 2026), which is beneficial for both the gatekeeper and the person of concern. Workforce gatekeeper training not only improves suicide prevention skills of workforce members but can be a key facilitator to adoption of suicide prevention strategies within workplace settings. In this interactive suicide gatekeeper training workshop, participants will be trained in VitalCog in Construction, and successful completion of this course results in VitalCog in Construction certification (good for 2 years). Participants discuss prevalence of suicide and why it is important to have suicide-focused conversations within the construction industry. We will then discuss risk factors and warning signs for suicide as they pertain to the construction industry through the Joiner Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Finally, we will discuss the value and necessity in having direct conversations about suicide, which will include practicing these conversations. This course goes beyond awareness and focuses on helping you take effective action when you are concerned about someone, which can be helpful for clients you serve and with colleagues. It is designed to be role-specific and supplement workplace policies and procedures and professional guidelines.

Anyone interested in this course can attend, including construction industry members, friends, and family members. We also offer PDCs for HR Professionals (see below).

Objectives:

1. Describe why we need to discuss suicide prevention in construction and how to support the industry
2. Identify risk factors and warning signs specific to construction
3. Utilize critical skills to practice conversations around suicide with those in the construction industry

Non-Discrimination:

HPC and ATAGF do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or age.

Conflict of Interest Statements:

There is no known commercial support for this program, nor are there any relationships between the CE sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could be construed as conflicts of interests. Drs. Hoff and Lang receive compensation from the funding source for instructing these courses. There is no commercial support or benefits for endorsement of products (e.g., books, training, drugs).

The presenter will inform participants of the utility and validity of content discussed (including the basis for statements about utility/validity), as well as limitations of the approach and the most common and severe risks, if any, associated with program content.

Requests for Accommodations:

HPC and ATAGF are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants with special needs should contact program organizers so reasonable accommodations can be made.

To request accommodations, contact ATAGF's Continuing Education Vice Chair, Christine Boulton-Olson, PhD, LP, at training@grandforkstherapy.com.