Imagine… a suicide-safer community

LivingWorks has been helping communities become suicide-safer since 1983. These programs are part of national, regional and organizational suicide prevention strategies around the world. Developed using Rothman’s social research and development (R&D) model, these programs prepare community helpers to intervene and prevent suicide. The learning experiences are interactive, practical, regularly updated and customizable. Comprehensive, layered and integrated, there is a program for everyone who wants to help.

For information on opportunities to attend trainings in your area or to find out how these programs can be part of your community or organization’s suicide-safer plans, please contact LivingWorks.

 

suicideTALK: An exploration in suicide awareness

suicideTALK is a 90-minute to half-day session that invites interested community members to become more aware of suicide prevention opportunities in their community. Dealing openly with the stigma around suicide, this exploration focuses upon the question, “Should we talk about suicide?” As a suicideTALK-informed session member, you will be better able to:

• understand how personal and community beliefs about suicide affect suicide stigma and safety;
• appreciate how the steps taught in ­safeTALK can be used to help prevent suicide;
• choose among ways to help protect, preserve and promote life in a suicide-safer community.

suicideTALK can be customized for any community. Intriguing questions and a number of handouts stimulate learning. Discover commitments that you want to make.

 

safeTALK: suicide alertness for everyone

safeTALK is a two-and-a-half to three-hour training that prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety. As a safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, you will be better able to:

• move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide;
• identify people who have thoughts of suicide;
• apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person with suicide thoughts to suicide first aid, intervention caregivers.

Powerful video clips illustrate both non-alert and alert responses. Discussion and practice help stimulate learning. Learn steps that contribute to saving lives.

safeTALK Training for Trainers (T4T)

safeTALK T4T is a one- to one-and-a-half day course that prepares local resource persons to be trainers of safeTALK. Training involves coaching, pre-session independent study, group presentations, lectures and seminars.

 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

ASIST is a two-day, skills-building workshop that prepares caregivers of all kinds to provide suicide first aid interventions. Professionals, volunteers and informal helpers all need to know how to help persons with thoughts of suicide in ways that increase their suicide safety. As an ASIST-trained first aid intervention caregiver, you will be better able to:

• identify people who have thoughts of suicide;
• understand how your beliefs and attitudes can affect suicide interventions;
• 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 behavior for an agreed amount of time;
• follow up on all safety commitments, accessing further help as needed.

Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid.

ASIST Training for Trainers (T4T)

ASIST T4T is a five-day (miniumum) course that prepares local resource persons to be trainers of the ASIST workshop. Participation if the full five days is required. Training involves coaching, independent study, group presentations, lectures and seminars.

ASIST TuneUp

ASIST TuneUp is a half-day training refresher for participants who have completed the ASIST workshop. ASIST training (edition X or later), or an earlier edition plus an ASIST X Familiarizer is a prerequisite.

 

WorkingTogether: Creating suicide-safer community connections

WorkingTogether is a one-day learning experience for community helpers. It is designed to help community helpers bridge working together gaps in supporting persons at risk of suicidal behaviors. The program will benefit individual participants, but is likely to have the greatest impact on a community where a large enough mix of helpers participate in the program. WorkingTogether includes innovative, experiential exercises intended to surface barriers to care and then to enable the development of life-links between and among the community's helping resources.

 

suicideCare: Aiding life alliances

suicideCare is a one-day seminar that introduces frontline caregivers and professionals to advanced clinical practices beyond suicide first aid care. A structured clinical risk assessment underlies the matching of an appropriate helping strategy with the needs of the person at risk. This seminar focuses upon suicide-specific tools that are rarely provided in formal training. As a suicideCare-trained frontline caregiver or professional, you will be better able to:

• perform a comprehensive risk assessment;
• negotiate an appropriate helping strategy with a person at risk;
• appreciate how beliefs, attitudes and practices can shape an effective helping relationship.

Building on LivingWorks’ Risk Review and Suicide Intervention Model, ASIST participation is a prerequisite. Explore the critical Tools (knowledge), Tasks (skills) and Traits (attitudes) for working intensively with persons at risk. Pre-session activities, structured handouts and case studies guide large and small group work. Expand your helping abilities with suicide-specific tools, tasks and traits.