Brittany Ritter, representative for the Lincoln County Preventing ATODS (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs) Abuse Coalition, joined the Weekday Wake-Up on Wednesday, October 28, to highlight the ongoing expansion of the PROSPER program. Standing for “Proactive Reduction of Suicide in Populations via Evidence-Based Research,” PROSPER provides specialized training designed to recognize risk behaviors and build crisis response plans.
RELATED: RADIO INTERVIEW WITH BRITTANY RITTER –
The curriculum is currently deployed across Lincoln County School Districts #1 and #2, spanning Star Valley, Cokeville, and southern Lincoln County. While the Wyoming Department of Education mandates yearly suicide prevention education for school personnel, Ritter noted that the program’s footprint extends well beyond classrooms.
“PROSPER has been super effective in reducing the number of suicide attempts and completions among our Lincoln County residents,” Ritter said. “Not only have we had our school districts participate in this PROSPER training, but we’ve also had lots of community members and agencies attend.”
First responders, healthcare professionals, local law enforcement, and private citizens have completed the training. Ritter credited the community-wide effort with measurable decreases in local suicide rates, emergency psychiatric holds, and hospitalizations tied to suicidal ideation.
The program is free and adaptable to various audiences, from a 90-minute introductory seminar to intensive two-day courses offering continuing education units (CEUs) and POST credits. According to Ritter, participants don’t need a counseling background to make an impact. The instruction focuses on recognizing ambivalence and establishing actionable safety plans to keep individuals safe during acute crises.
The initiative addresses an urgent public health challenge. Nationally, suicide claims roughly 50,000 lives annually, ranking as the second leading cause of death for youths aged 10 to 18. Statewide, Wyoming consistently ranks among the top three states for per capita suicide completions.
“We want to rally our troops, provide as much training as we can to the people in Lincoln County, and just help keep our community safe,” Ritter emphasized.
Training is available upon request for local civic groups, businesses, and industrial safety teams. Interested organizations or residents can schedule a session by contacting Ritter directly at 307-390-8442 or via email at Brittany.Ritter@