FAQs about REACH

1.     What are the requirements to implement REACH?

Organizations or universities wishing to implement REACH must have a current signed contract giving permission. The REACH Training curriculum and materials are copy written and the intellectual property of Dr. Darcy Haag Granello, LPCC-S. Under no circumstances may any portion of a REACH Training be used without express written permission by Dr. Haag Granello. No individual may implement REACH unless they are a certified REACH trainer in an organization that is contracted to provide REACH.

No organization or university should provide suicide prevention gatekeeper training as a stand-alone experience.  Meta-analyses consistently find short-term improvements on knowledge, confidence, and intentions to intervene, but current evidence shows limited and methodologically weak data on sustained behavior change for gatekeeper training when implemented (Kingi-Uluave et al., 2025; Liu et al., 2025). More importantly, without clear referral pathways, organizational support, and follow‑up structures, trained gatekeepers may be unable to act effectively even if they recognize risk (Granello et al., 2023).

Therefore, organizations or universities wishing to implement REACH must demonstrate that they are doing so as part of an existing comprehensive suicide prevention program. Organizations or universities that do not currently have such a program should reach out for assistance with creating such a program.

2.     What are the recommendations for setting, structure, and group size for REACH?

REACH is always implemented in person. There is no option for virtual training. No materials are provided in electronic format. Also, due to the complexity and sensitivity of the material and training experience, recording or streaming of any REACH Training is not permitted in any situation. The maximum group size for REACH is 30 people.

3.     How do the materials in REACH align with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Mental Health Media Guide?

REACH is a highly scripted 90-minute training. Trainers go through intensive training and are taught to follow a training manual. New trainers are paired with seasoned trainers who act as mentors, co-presenting material until they are prepared to present the material on their own. All material, including embedded stories and examples, have been vetted through the guidelines to reduce potential for contagion and to ensure inclusive and non-labeling language.

All material and all language used in the training also has been vetted with REACH advisory boards at University and Hospital settings as well as with members of both communities who are suicide loss survivors.

In addition, REACH founder Dr. Haag Granello, herself a suicide loss survivor, is a nationally-recognized expert in the use of inclusive and non-stigmatizing language that encourages help-seeking behavior. She has published research on this topic, including a seminal article in 2016 that remains in the 99.997%ile of the nearly 7 million research articles ever tracked by Altmetric.

Granello, D. H., & Gibbs, T. A. (2016). The power of language and labels: The mentally ill versus person with mental illness. Journal of Counseling & Development, 94, 31-40. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12059

4.     How does REACH align with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention?

The design of the REACH and the results of the research from both University and Hospital settings align directly with the strategic priorities established in the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (HHS, 2024).

Goal 5 of the National Strategy calls for integrating suicide prevention into the culture of workplace and community settings. Both universities and healthcare settings are specifically mentioned in this goal. Goal 5 defines success as creating universal safety nets and extending support systems in places where people live, work, learn, play and worship. Implementing REACH in these settings specifically addresses this goal.

Goal 8 calls for implementing effective suicide prevention services as a core component of healthcare delivery. Although REACH within hospital settings is designed to care for the healthcare workers themselves, teaching all healthcare workers to recognize suicide risk and know how to intervene will also improve these skills for everyone, including patients.

5.     How do I learn more about implementing REACH in my organization or university?

Simply reach out to Dr. Haag Granello, using the contact information on this website.