Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Workshop

ASIST helps prepare caregivers ASIST is designed to help all caregivers become more ready, willing and able to help persons at risk of suicide. Suicide can be prevented through the actions of prepared caregivers.

Just as “CPR” skills make physical first aid possible, training in life assisting intervention develops the skills used in suicide first aid. ASIST is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers learn how to create suicide-safety-for- now.

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, teachers, counsellors, youth workers, police and correctional staff, school support staff, clergy, and community volunteers.

ASIST has five learning sections:

1. Preparing - sets the tone, norms, and expectations of the workshop. 2. Connecting – a time to discuss beliefs and feelings in order to become more aware of and comfortable with them, and to understand their possible impact on an intervention. 3. Understanding – introduces the Pathway for Life Assisting (PAL) guide. PAL is designed to meet the needs of a person at risk by guiding caregivers to do certain life assisting tasks. Life assisting is about creating safety-for-now for the person at risk of suicide. 4. Assisting – Dedicated to practicing using PAL. Participants practice working with suicide intervention situations in the whole group and will have an opportunity to do at least one practice situation in either the caregiver or person at risk role in a small group. 5. Working Together – provides an opportunity to explore ways you and your community can work together.

2014/2015 ASIST Dates - All workshops are held from 9am—5pm over two consecutive weekdays

Tipperary Carlow/Kilkenny

7 & 8 April 2015 6 & 7 October 2015 30 Sept/1 Oct 2015

Wexford Waterford

25 & 26 February 2015 19 & 20 May 2015 15 & 16 September 2015 1 & 2 December 2015

ASIST WORKSHOP DAY 1

9.00AM PREPARING SECTION

Registration Why First Aid? Why ASIST Training is Needed About the Participants About the Workshop

10.00AM BREAK (15 mins)

10.15AM About Connecting Audio Visual: Cause Of Death?

10.45AM CONNECTING SECTION Small Group Work Connecting Feelings and Experiences with Suicide and Helping Connecting Attitudes with Suicide and Helping

1.00PM LUNCH

2.00PM UNDERSTANDING SECTION

Introduction to Understanding Explore Invitations Asking About Thoughts of Suicide Understanding Choices Phase Hearing their Story

3.10PM BREAK (15 mins)

3.25PM Support Turning to Safety Assisting Life Phase Develop a Safe Plan Confirm Actions Concluding Understanding

5.OOPM END OF DAY 1

ASIST WORKSHOP DAY 2

9.00AM ASSISTING SECTION

Starting the Assisting section PAL in action Audio Visual: It Begins With You

10.05AM BREAK (15 mins)

10.20AM Transition to practice Connecting simulation. Support Turning to Safety simulation PAL simulation Safety Framework Simulation Whole group closing; workgroup introduction

12.05PM BREAK (10mins)

12.15PM Complete at least one practice situation

1.00PM LUNCH

2.00PM Continuation of practice

3.20PM BREAK (15 mins)

3.35PM Continuation of practice and conclusion of workgroup activities

4.10PM WORKING TOGETHER SECTION

Organizing and Starting Relationships with Persons at Risk discussion Community Relationships discussion Closing and feedback; distribution of certificates

5.00PM CLOSE OF WORKSHOP