Organize or sponsor an ASIST workshop

Do you want to help helpers in your community to feel ready, willing and able to prevent the immediate risk of suicide? Nothing could be more helpful than sponsoring and organizing an ASIST workshop.

ASIST is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize and review risk, and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. It is by far the most widely used, acclaimed and researched suicide intervention training workshop in the world.

There is a comprehensive ASIST Organizer Guide. LivingWorks or an ASIST trainer can provide you with a copy. You can also download the Organizer Guide in PDF format (354 Kb). The following is an overview of some the things you might want to know. 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, counselors, youth workers, police and correctional staff, school support staff, clergy, and community volunteers. Mixed groups are strongly recommended since the workshop also facilitates collaboration among participants.

ASIST has been refined since 1983 with feedback from over 750,000 participants and over 3,500 active trainers. Certain specifications have proven to be essential. The workshop must be conducted in two consecutive days (7 working hours per day). It must be conducted by at least two Registered Trainers. Each workshop can accommodate from 7 to 15 participants per trainer, although 10 to 12 participants per trainer is a better range. More than 45 participants are best split into separate workshops. Smaller workshops (7 to 15 participants) are possible but represent a less economical use of resources since two trainers must still be present.

Organizers play a big part in the overall success of each ASIST. There are fairly strict room and equipment requirements. One large group room and at least one small group room are needed for an ASIST workshop of 14–30 participants. It is almost essential that the noon meal be provided on site. Refreshments and other "creature comfort" considerations can add that final touch of excellence. Organizers typically introduce trainers and provide information on local resources should there be participants who are at risk. Organizers often collect participant fees and oversee financial matters.

Each participant pays LivingWorks a fee for materials and to subsidize trainer support. Participants receive a workshop workbook, a 152-page Suicide Intervention Handbook, a full color, tear-resistant wallet card on intervention and risk estimation principles, two suicide first aid stickers and a certificate of participation. Their value is obvious to virtually all participants. Trainers order these materials directly from LivingWorks. Organizers will need to consult with trainers regarding their fees and expenses.

It is strongly recommended that the "real" costs (estimated to be $275.00 CAD per participant) be used in all marketing and advertising even if the actual cost to each participant is far less. Where appropriate, give credit to sponsors for the difference between real and actual costs.

You will be pleased with the result and the part you play in creating it. Contact LivingWorks or a trainer in your area to get a copy of the organizer guide, or download the PDF (354 Kb).