When

This a two full day workshop. You must attend both days in its entirity to receive your certificate:

Thursday, February 18th and Friday, February 19th:

8am-4pm

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Where

St Paul's Lutheran Church in Eggerstville 
4007 Main St
Buffalo, NY 14226
 

 
Driving Directions 

Contact

Olivia Retallack 
Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie County 
716-834-2310 x4421 
oretallack@crisisservices.org 
 

ASIST Training 

 

Create a life-assisting community

It begins with you, the benefits live on 

The challenge

Every year more people die by suicide than from all of the several armed conflicts around the world and, in many places, about the same or more than those dying in traffic accidents. For every suicide, there may be up to 100 times more who are injured by non-fatal suicidal behaviors. In any year, as many as 6% of the population have serious thoughts of suicide.

How can further deaths and injuries be prevented? How can we support people to choose life when something prevents them from seeing a way forward?

The opportunity

Most people considering suicide share their distress and their intent. Training can help us see and respond to these invitations to help. It can give you the confidence to ask about suicide if you are concerned about someone’s safety. It can provide you with the tools to help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

The workshop

ASIST is a two full days workshop that provides practical training for caregivers seeking to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Participants often include:

•  people concerned about family, friends          •  natural helpers and advisers

•  emergency service workers                             •  counselors, teachers and ministers

•  mental health practitioners                              •  workers in health, welfare or justice

•  community volunteers

Working mostly in small groups of one trainer to no more than 15 participants, ASIST uses many different teaching processes to create a practice-oriented and interactive learning experience.

The outcome

The emphasis of the ASIST workshop is on suicide first aid, on helping a person at risk stay safe and seeks further help. Attendance at the full two days is essential. Learn how to:

• recognize invitations for help                           • reach out and offer support

• review the risk of suicide                                 • apply a suicide intervention model

• link people with community resources

Evaluations have shown that the workshop increases caregivers’ knowledge and confidence to respond to a person at risk of suicide, that intervention skills are retained over time and that they are put to use to save lives.