Living Works
2 Day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Facts
!n 1998, Canada had 3,699 reported suicides
The highest rate of suicide for males is between the ages of 20-24
The second highest rate of suicide for males is over the age of 70
The highest rate of suicide for females is between the ages of 40-50
The Challenge
More people are dying from suicide than in all of the several armed conflicts around the world. For every completed suicide, there is approximately 100 times more who injure themselves due to attempted suicides. In any year, approximately, 1 in 17 people have serious thoughts of suicide. How can further deaths and injuries be prevented? How can we support people to choose life when painful experiences prevent them from seeing another option?
The Opportunity
Most people considering suicide signal their distress and their intent. Training can help us see and respond to these invitations to help. It can provide the confidence to ask about suicide if we are concerned about someone’s safety. It can provide us with the tools to help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
The Workshop
ASIST provides practical help for caregivers seeking to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Participants often include:
- People concerned about family, friends
- Mental health practitioners
- Teachers, counsellors and ministers
- Workers in health, welfare and justice
- Emergency service workers
- Community volunteers
The interactive program includes teaching, discussion, videos and skills practice. Attendance at the 2 full days is essential and each participant is awarded a certificate upon completion of the workshop.
The Outcome
The emphasis of the ASIST workshop is on suicide first-aid and on helping a person at risk stay safe and seek further help.
Learn how to:
- Recognize invitations to help
- Reach out and offer support
- Review the risk of suicide
- Apply a suicide intervention model
- Link people with community resources
There is no cost to attend the workshop as funding has been generously provided by the Professional Development Network of Leeds-Grenville.
To register please contact Lori Veltkamp at 613-345-0950 ext 6 or by email at lori.veltkamp@cmha-lg.ca
Suicide Awareness
The Leeds-Grenville branch has been providing Suicide Awareness presentations to all Grade 10 students in 9 local highs schools since 2001. Presentations are conducted during the Civics/Careers class and provide the following information:
- myths surrounding suicide
- typical reasons why people commit suicide
- common warning signs
- what to do
- community resources
Each student is provided a folder containing a Suicide Awareness booklet that includes a list of community resources, a stress card and a yellow ribbon card. The yellow ribbon card is a wallet sized card that carries the message that there are those who care and will help. It encourages people who need help and don’t know how to ask, to be able to give the card to a caring person. The card also includes the Kids Help Phone number and the Mental Health Crisis Line number.
For additional information, please contact Lori Veltkamp at 345-0950 ext 6 or by email lori.veltkamp@cmha-lg.ca