Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training [ASIST]

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Suicide is preventable. Anyone can make a difference.

It can be daunting to ask someone if they’re experiencing suicidal thoughts. Knowing how to approach the conversation and having the tools to support you can help.

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.

As the world’s leading suicide intervention workshop, 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.

Learning Objectives

Recognize that caregivers and persons at risk are affected by personal and societal attitudes about suicide.
Discuss suicide with a person at risk in a direct manner.
Identify risk alerts and develop a safe plan related to them.
Demonstrate the skills required to intervene with a person at risk of suicide.
List the types of resources available to a person at risk of suicide, including themselves.
Make a commitment to improving community resources and networking.
Recognize that suicide prevention is broader than suicide intervention and, includes life promotion and self-care for persons at risk and for caregivers.

Upcoming Training Sessions

September, 2023

REGION: Southshore | LOCATION: Rodd Grand, Yarmouth

DATE: September 26|27. 2023 | TIME: 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

COST: Cost is $62.77 per person to individuals and organizations for whom the regular ASIST fees are a barrier.

Download and print the poster HERE and help spread the word.

October, 2023

REGION: Southshore | LOCATION: Best Western, Bridgewater
DATE: October 3 | 4, 2023 | TIME: 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
COST: Cost is $62.77 per person to individuals and organizations for whom the regular ASIST fees are a barrier.

Download and print the poster HERE and help spread the word.

November, 2023

REGION: HRM | LOCATION: Best Western, Dartmouth
SOLD OUT

January, 2024

REGION: Colchester East-Hants | LOCATION: Inn on Prince, Truro
DATE: January 9, 2024 | TIME: 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
COST: Cost is $62.77 per person to individuals and organizations for whom the regular ASIST fees are a barrier.

Testimonials

“The 2-day session I attended, while heavy in its nature, addressed the topic in an open and real way that made it more comfortable to talk about and less foreign. The facilitators created an extremely safe environment for these discussions to take place in and they were welcoming and inclusive to the participants. “ ASIST Participant

“After taking the training, I feel more prepared to have a discussion and help support an individual who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. I also feel I have a better sense of what is available in the community as far as supports for someone dealing with a mental health issue.“ ASIST Participant

DETAILS:

ASIST workshops are taught over two days (14 hours class time with an hour lunch break both days)
For ages 18+. Participants can include but not limited to: parents and caregivers; natural helpers and advisors; educators and ministers; health practitioners; justice, law enforcers, emergency workers, and community volunteers.
The course costs $275 per person and includes course materials and nutritional breaks.
Taught by two registered trainers per 15–30 participants.

To learn more about ASIST or book a training session, contact Carolyn Sloan at [email protected].

We are able to offer ASIST at a subsidized rate thanks to the generousity of our funders:

About LivingWorks: LivingWorks is dedicated to saving lives through the creation, development, and delivery of innovatve training experiences that empower individuals, organizations, and communities to be safer from suicide. To learn more, visit www.livingworks.net.