Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Partaking in this workshop has opened my eyes to how prevalent suicide in the UK is. Before this workshop I was uncertain that intervention could be so helpful and crucial in aiding someone who wants to end their life. Honestly one of the most valuable things I’ve completed in my life and I hope the skills stay with me throughout my life.
ASIST Participant
What is ASIST?
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
A two day, skills building workshop that prepares caregivers to provide suicide first aid interventions.
PAPYRUS uses the very latest version of ASIST (version 11.1)
What happens at ASIST?
ASIST trains participants to reduce the immediate risk of a suicide and increase the support for a person at risk. The workshop helps participants recognise what a person at risk may need from others in order to keep safe and get help.
Who should attend ASIST?
ASIST is for everyone (over the age of 16). PAPYRUS aims to train as many varied professionals and members of the community including; natural helpers and advisers, emergency service workers, counsellors, teachers, ministers, mental health staff, workers in health, welfare and justice, parents/relatives and community volunteers.
How does ASIST help prevent suicide?
As an ASIST trained first aid intervention caregiver, you will be better able to:
- Identify people who have thoughts of suicide
- Seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and the reasons for living
- Review current risk and develop a plan to increase safety from suicidal behaviour
- Follow up on all safety commitments, accessing further help as needed
- Recognise invitations for help
- Reach out and offer support
- Apply a suicide intervention model
- Link people with community resources
Having completed ASIST, feedback from participants is as follows*:
96% rated ASIST 8 or more out of 10; 97% said that they would highly recommend ASIST to others.
99% said that they would now ask someone directly if he/she were thinking about suicide, if their words/actions suggested that they might be at risk.
99% said that they would do a suicide intervention if someone told them he/she were thinking of suicide.
99% of ASIST participants said that they now felt prepared to help a person at risk of suicide.
*Data taken from ASIST training evaluation forms from May 2014 to October 2016
