1 May 2008

Assisting Those at Risk of Suicide

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has brought people who have completed suicide prevention training together to review their skills.

Since it began in 2003, 380 people have taken part in the two day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) course. Participants have included teachers, the clergy, councillors, emergency service, mental health, youth and community workers.

ASIST is the most widely acclaimed and researched suicide training in the world. The emphasis of the course is on suicide first-aid, helping the person at risk to stay safe and to seek further help. It teaches participants how to; recognise opportunities to help, reach out and offer support, estimate the risk of suicide, apply a model for suicide intervention and to link people with community resources.

Deirdre McParland, Senior Health Promotion Officer for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust says: “The continued demand for ASIST shows that there is clearly a need for this type of training to raise awareness of suicidal behaviours. We are continually working with the community to offer ASIST to as many people as possible so that they can recognise and respond to those at risk.”

100 people attended the refresher course in ASIST. The event was also used to plan training for the coming year across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area. Trainers were given an overview of an independent evaluation of the programme by Ms Marie McStay, who was commissioned by the Southern Health and Social Services Board to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Feedback was very positive highlighting a high standard of training across the Southern area.

The Trust’s Protect Life Implementation Group is leading on a Suicide Prevention Action Plan for the area.

For further information on ASIST contact the Southern Area Health Promotion Department Tel: 028 3741 2424.