Professional Development

I was recently invited along to the LivingWorks ASIST course (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) the main purpose of it is to provide "enhanced suicide intervention knowledge and competence". More importantly (for me), it also invited an amount of reflection on certain parts of my own attitude toward suicide and how this could impact on a potential intervention. The focus of ASIST is suicide first aid recognising and responding to people at imminent risk. Originally developed in Canada in the l980s, this two day programme has been progressively modified taking on a suitable New Zealand mantle.

ASIST is a 2-day skills-based workshop that helps equip people for suicide first-aid. Facilitated by registered LivingWorks trainers the emphasis of the course is on increasing carers' ability to promote the immediate safety of someone who may be at risk of suicide and providing links to further help. ASIST has been highly valued by all kinds of carers. Workshop participants include people concerned about family members or friends, along with those in public contact, volunteer or professional helping roles and in this instance your freindly Clinical Hypnotherapist..

This workshop goes beyond suicide awareness programs which tend to provide a general orientation to suicide, intervention tips and exploration of attitudes about suicide.

ASIST helps increase people's ability to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and reach out in a supportive way that links them with further resources. The importance of linking people to informal supports (such as family and friends) and options for professional help is emphasised. The general comment from my fellow participants say the workshop increased their confidence and ability to recognise and approach someone who may be at risk of suicide and provide links to further resources. This is a good course with on going evaluation ensuring course effectiveness.

I came away from the course happy to find that the course generally mirrored the training I had in the past along with a few extra ideas. Such reinforcement does not go amiss. Workshops occur nation wide - anyone interested should check out the website http://www.livingworks.org.nz/, Ph: (09) 909 9206, e-mail: mailto:livingworks@lifeline.org.nz