SCHENECTADY, NY -- Behind closed doors, Christian educators become informed about suicide prevention. It is the latest group to seeking guidance after four students in the Schenectady School district took their own lives last school year.

"They want the tools, they want the language, they want to know what the resources are what the most helpful responses may be to any given situation both based on their past experiences and what they may deal with in the future," said Martha Reisner, the executive director of the CRTC.

"I want them to learn not to miss, dismiss or avoid talking about suicide, helping people with thoughts of suicide," said Melanie Puorto, the director of Suicide Prevention Initiatives for the New York State Department of Mental Health. "And generally be educated about what we can we do to prevent suicide, and to intervene suicide and to provide care for people after suicide."

Puorto has conducted training sessions like this all over the state.

"It's really crucial that people begin the learning process," said Puorto.

Puorto says the Schenectady School District has come a long way in that learning process. She's been working with staff members there since March.

"They've been wonderful, receptive to help, doing a lot of hard work themselves," said Puorto. "They've attended many, many trainings, I think over 600 people have been trained as part of the human service community in the school district in post traumatic loss after suicide, bereavement after suicide, safe talk and assist... so they really have been working hard to be part of the community solution."

But she says her work is far from done.

"It can transcend city limits, county limits, state limits," said Puorto. "It's something everybody needs to be educated in because you just never know when it is going to touch your life."

Puorto says she'll be meeting with members of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese in a matter of days to make sure the door remains opening to training and resources are available.

For more information on the state's programs and resources in suicide prevention omh.state.ny.us.