A.S.I.S.T. Workshop: Parish Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

The A.S.I.S.T. programme is a 2-day intensive, interactive, and practice-dominated workshop designed to help Participants/Caregivers recognise the immediate risk of suicide and learn how to intervene to prevent the tragic consequences of suicide.

A.S.I.S.T. is designed to help Caregivers become more ready, willing, and able to help persons at risk of taking their own lives to get further appropriate help to stay alive.

The A.S.I.S.T. workshop has five phases:

Preparing: – sets the tone and expectations of the learning experience.

Connecting: – sensitises participants to their own feelings and attitudes towards the topic of suicide. Creates an understanding of the impact which attitudes have on the intervention process.

Understanding: – overviews the intervention needs of a person at risk. Focuses on providing participants with the knowledge and skills to recognise risk and develop safe plans to reduce the risk of suicide.

Assisting: – presents a model for effective suicide intervention. Participants develop their skills through observation and supervised simulation experiences in large and small groups.

Networking: – generates information and familiarity with the resources available to them in the local community that they may choose to sign-post or refer a person at risk to. Promotes a commitment by participants to transform local resources into helping networks.

AIM:
A.S.I.S.T. is suicide first aid - it is designed to enable a caregiver to make the initial intervention with a person at risk of suicide until that person can link-in with the appropriate service or resource to help them further.

OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of A.S.I.S.T. are that participants are better prepared to:

• recognise invitations to help
• reach out and offer support
• review the risk of suicide
• work with persons at risk to develop their safeplan
• link with community resources.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
The A.S.I.S.T. Workshop is suitable for all Caregivers (community members and volunteers, health and social care professionals, youth workers, members of An Garda Siochana, Teachers, etc.). Note: We are all Caregivers either in a personal or professional capacity. Attendees should be over 18 yrs.

It is recommended that intending ASIST participants undertake the Let's Talk About Suicide online programme or the safeTALK (suicide alertness) programme initially, especially if their knowledge of the topic of suicide prevention is limited and they may benefit from the initial 'alertness' training. Registration to undertake both of these programmes are outlined on the Public Page/Training Schedule page of this website.

METHOD OF DELIVERY:
Participants develop their skills through observation, supervised simulations experiences and role play in large and small groups.

RECOMMENDATION:
As the A.S.I.S.T. training can be challenging at an emotional level, it is not recommended for anyone who is feeling emotionally vulnerable. If you have experienced a major challenge in the last year, such as a bereavement, particularly a suicide bereavement, or have had thoughts of suicide in recent months, we would recommend that you do not undertake the training at this time and delay until you are feeling emotionally stronger. If you have any queries regarding this, please don’t hesitate to contact Josephine Rigney, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention on 086-8157 850 or email: josephine.rigney@hse.ie

PIETA provide information and support to those affected by suicide on their 24/7 Helpline 1800 247 247 or text “HELP” to 51444.
Support is also available from the Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officer on 086 418 0088.