ASIST - Workshop Description

ASIST is a two-day, skills-building workshop that prepares caregivers of all kinds to provide suicide first aid interventions.

Professionals, volunteers, and other helpers need to know how to help persons with thoughts of suicide in ways that increase their suicide safety. As an ASIST-trained first aid intervention caregiver, you will be better able to:

Identify people who have thoughts of suicide;

Understand how your beliefs and attitudes can affect suicide interventions;

Seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and the reasons for living;

Review current risk and develop a plan to increase safety from suicidal behaviour for an agreed amount of time;

Follow up on all safety commitments, accessing further help as needed.

Participation in the full two days is required in order to receive an ASIST certificate. Please note that courses at the Crisis Society's Training Centre are limited to 15 participants. Facilitation on your premises requires a minimum of 15 participants and allows a maximum of 30 participants.

Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention that will help participants look at feelings, beliefs, and attitudes about suicide in a safe, supportive environment.

Learn suicide first aid from the professional training staff of the Crisis Society. In addition to being certified ASIST Master Trainers, Lyndsay Wells, Debbi Mahaffy, and Heather Owen are members of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, and certified Crisis Workers through the American Association of Suicidology.