In August 2025, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) launched a new online course, Being A Good Relative: A Training for Crisis Counselors Responding to Native Callers, Texters, and Chatters. This course is hosted on HealtheKnowledge by SPRC. GLITEC collaborated with SPRC in the development of this resource.

This free, self-paced course is designed specifically for crisis counselors, but it may also be useful for other practitioners and clinicians working with Native people. This course uses education, interactive scenarios, and knowledge checks to help participants understand how to better support Native individuals in crisis. Those who complete the course also gain access to three AI-powered crisis simulations to practice what they have learned.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
    •   recognize the strengths of Native communities
    •   clarify common assumptions and misconceptions about Native people and communities
    •   identify resources and supports for Native people in crisis.

This 90-minute training helps participants build their knowledge of Native people and learn to balance that knowledge with an understanding that there is always more to learn.

Collaboration in the Course Development 

To help develop the course, SPRC collaborated with Will Funmaker, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation who serves as Director of GLITEC and the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board. Will brought an essential Tribal perspective to the course. 

Through his participation in an in-person interview, Will ensured that the training authentically reflects Tribal strengths, values, traditions, and the lived experiences of Native communities. His contributions aim to help crisis counselors balance increased cultural awareness with humility. This can assist crisis counselors with recognizing both the resilience and diversity of Tribal callers while fostering trust and understanding during moments of crisis