CMHA NS proud to offer second round of subsidized suicide prevention training workshops thanks to Red Cross grant

Feb 16, 2023

The Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division [CMHA NS] is proud to announce that thanks to generous funding from the Canadian Red Cross, we are able to continue offering subsidized Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training [ASIST] throughout 2023.

The subsidized trainings are available to individuals and community-based organizations for whom regular ASIST fees of $275.00 per person, are a barrier.

The cost of these sessions is $62.77 including taxes and administrative fees, and covers course materials, refreshments during nutritional breaks and lunch.

The first of these sessions will be held in person over two days — March 13 and 14, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia at the Best Western PLUS Dartmouth Hotel and Suites.

If you would like to send more than one individual from your organization, please limit it to no more than five and email additional names to email Elizabeth Baker at [email protected]. to add them to our waiting list for upcoming sessions.

To be added to the waiting list, contact Elizabeth Baker at [email protected]

About ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training [ASIST] is a 2-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help individuals recognize the risk of suicide, and learn how to intervene to prevent the risk of suicidal thoughts from becoming suicidal behaviours.

Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop — ASIST can be learned and used by anyone.

ASIST participants learn to:

• Understand the ways personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions.
• Provide guidance and suicide first-aid to a person at risk in ways that meet their individual safety needs.
• Identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it.
• Appreciate the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community at large.
• Recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care.

PLEASE NOTE: ASIST Training will also be held in Cape Breton and Yarmouth. Further details about these trainings and others, will be announced at a later date. To keep up to date on ASIST training and other opportunities available through CMHA NS, subscribe to our mailing list.

In 2022, CMHA NS was been able to offer ASIST at a subsidized rate in Musquodoboit Harbour, Truro, Kingston, Yarmouth and Dartmouth thanks for grant funding from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Baker, Provincial Lead at Education and Training, CMHA NS at [email protected]