Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) was developed by “LivingWorks". ASIST offers a complete model of suicide first-aid intervention that provides a consistent approach to helping from initial contact through follow-up. ASIST has a developed structure with phases and tasks, and uses collaborative intervention processes to ensure active engagement, good contact, collaborative problem solving, risk review, safe planning and safe plan follow-up. ASIST is a two-day workshop (presented over two consecutive days) that is designed to enhance caregiver skills to intervene until either the immediate risk of suicide is reduced, or additional resources can be located. The goal of the workshop is to allow participants to walk away with the ability to:

• Discuss suicide with a person at-risk in a direct manner
• Identify risk alerts and develop safe plans
•  Demonstrate the skills required to intervene with a person at-risk
• List the types of resources available

ASIST is designed to help caregivers become more willing, ready, and able to help persons at risk. Suicide can be prevented with the help of prepared caregivers. Just as “CPR” skills may make physical first aid possible, training in suicide intervention develops the skills used in suicide first aid.

ASIST is a two-day intensive, interactive, and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk and learn how to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. The workshop is for all caregivers (any person in a position of trust). This includes professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay people. It is suitable for mental health professionals, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, teachers, counselors, youth workers, police and correctional staff, school support staff, clergy, and community volunteers.

Participants will receive 14 hours of continuing education credit for this class.