Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

In-House Training Courses > ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

The 2-day ASIST course equips key staff to identify people with suicidal thoughts and carry out an intervention with a colleague, customer or client who is having thoughts of suicide. 

Course Context

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is for anyone, regardless of prior experience, who wants to be able to provide suicide first aid. Shown by major studies to significantly reduce suicidality, the ASIST model teaches effective intervention skills while helping to build suicide prevention networks.

ASIST has saved and changed hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. Developed in 1983 and regularly updated to reflect improvements in knowledge and practice, ASIST is the world’s leading suicide intervention workshop. During the two-day interactive session, participants learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

Key Benefits

The benefits of ASIST training include:

  • Key staff have the expertise and confidence to carry out an intervention and risk assessment with a colleague, customer or client who is having thoughts of suicide.
  • The ASIST model helps to standardise referral and link to ongoing support which is appropriate to the person with thoughts, therefore increasing safety.
  • Employees who have attended ASIST will be better equipped to construct policies and pathways to care, that the organisation may want to initiate.
  • Knowledge and expertise is available within the organisation to spot the early signs of someone at risk and speed up intervention.

Who Is It For?

ASIST is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to learn the skills to support a person with thoughts of suicide/who is in crisis and increase their safety.

Course Content

Workshop features:

  • Presentations and guidance from 2 LivingWorks registered trainers
  • A scientifically proven intervention model
  • Powerful audiovisual learning aids
  • Group discussions
  • Skills practice and development
  • A balance of challenge and safety

The ASIST workshop is divided into 5 sections that follow in a logical progression to gradually build comfort and understanding around suicide and suicide intervention.

 

Preparing: Sets the tone, norms, and expectations of the learning experience.

Connecting: Sensitises participants to their own attitudes towards suicide. Creates an understanding of the impact that attitudes can have on the intervention process.

Understanding: Overviews the intervention needs of a person at risk. It focuses on providing participants with the knowledge and skills to recognise risk and develop safeplans to reduce the risk of suicide.

Assisting: Presents a model for effective suicide intervention. Participants develop their skills through observation and supervised simulation experiences in large and small groups.

Networking: Generates information about resources, employee assistance schemes and support agencies which will be helpful to ongoing workplace/community support.

What can I expect at a workshop?

An ASIST workshop is led by at least 2 registered LivingWorks trainers.
Some parts of the training take place with all participants together, others parts in a smaller work group – this helps create a balance between safety and challenge. Participants need not disclose personal experiences to the whole group.

Each participant will receive a workbook, wallet card, and stickers, along with a Certificate upon completing the workshop.

How does SafeTALK integrate with ASIST?

Although safeTALK and ASIST are separate programmes, they are designed to complement each other. The 2-day ASIST workshop provides skills to intervene with someone at risk, working with them to help them feel less overwhelmed and suicidal. Perhaps most importantly, the ASIST model also involves creating a safety plan to avoid the danger of suicide in the future.

It would not be possible to learn and practise all of the ASIST skills in safeTALK’s half-day timeframe, although many who attend safeTALK later decide to take ASIST.

Click here for details of safeTALK

Many organisations use both safeTALK and ASIST to create a larger, more effective network of suicide intervention resources. The result is that those at risk of suicide are more likely to have their invitations for help recognised – and more likely to get the help they need in staying safe.

A testimonial for the ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training:

 

"Excellent workshop, really inspiring and confidence inducing. Trainers were amazing!!"

Related Training Courses

SafeTALK Suicide Alertness for Everyone

Participants can expect to leave the 3-hour safeTALK course with practical knowledge, helping identify those who are at risk, confidently asking them about the topic of suicide, and connecting them with resources that can help them stay safe. Suitable for anyone in the workplace who wants to become a suicide-alert helper.

Read more

Suicide First Aid Through Understanding Suicide Intervention

A City & Guilds accredited 1-day course which can be applied to any professional or personal setting.  Those who attend will gain the knowledge and tools to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths and that simple skills can help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe from their thoughts and stay alive.

Read more

A Manager's Guide to Suicide Postvention Planning in the Workplace

This 1-day course helps an organisation consider the activities they should undertake if the unthinkable happened and a death by suicide of an employee, contractor or client occurred.  Participants will learn the skills to construct and initiate an appropriate, sensitive organisational & individual response and the syllabus will support the production of a company specific plan.

Read more

Find out more

 

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.  We are always happy to talk about our courses and help you to work out the best match for your requirements.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"The quality of the training has been fantastic and our employees are really engaging with the trainer and getting something out of it. Also In Equilibrium makes the whole process very easy to arrange."

— Employee Engagement & Wellbeing Officer, Sophie Holland
AGE UK
 
 

"We wanted to provide a course that taught useful and practical coping strategies that our members could put into place straight away. In Equilibrium’s experience showed us that they could provide this, and they tailored the course perfectly."

— The Association of Electoral Administrators
 
 
 
 

"In-Equilibrium recently presented Mental Health Awareness to Managers in all of our area offices. The training was really well received and all of the trainers were praised for their in-depth knowledge and understanding."

 

— Roger Bullivant Limited
 

"The training was very well received by staff who now all intend to implement the session’s practical tips and techniques into their existing roles. A large proportion of the staff rated the facilitator and their delivery as excellent and their only recommendation was for a further and longer session!"

— Leeds City College
 

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