In any year, an estimated five per cent of the population have serious thoughts of suicide. (Samaritans)
When it comes to someone thinking of suicide, people can be reluctant to get involved. This can be down to fear of making things worse, not knowing what to do, feeling that it is someone else’s responsibility, even the mistaken belief that it would be futile to intervene because this person has made their mind up to die.
The workshop
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is a two day workshop that offers intensive training for front-line workers and community members. The emphasis is on teaching suicide first-aid to help a person at risk stay safe and seek further help as needed. ASIST provides practical training for caregivers seeking to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
For every suicide, there may be up to 100 times more who are injured by non-fatal suicidal behaviours. Suicide is the leading cause of death in young people living in Wales. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Participants often include:
• people concerned about family and friends
• natural helpers and advisers
• emergency service workers
• counsellors, psychotherapists, teachers and ministers
• mental health practitioners
• workers in health, welfare and justice
• community volunteers.
Learn how to:
• recognise invitations for help
• reach out and offer support
• review the risk of suicide
• apply a suicide intervention model
• link people with community resources.
Every year in Wales nearly twice as many people die by suicide as are killed in road traffic accidents.
Since 1983 over one million people have been trained in ASIST