Most people with thoughts of suicide would rather live yet hundreds take their own lives in this country every year – and the problem is even greater in rural areas.
Aside from the tragic and unnecessary loss of each life is the devastating impact each suicide has on those left behind.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (”ASIST”) is a programme that is delivered by the HSE and supported by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
ASIST is designed to equip ordinary people with skills to help them identify individuals who may be at risk of suicide in their communities, work places or even their families. Furthermore, the programme provides participants with the awareness, knowledge and confidence to help and enable them to intervene and essentially prevent the immediate risk of a suicide.
This is an intensive and demanding programme which will require a commitment of two full working days to complete. It is operated by the Health Services Executive (HSE), and it is free to join. However, places are strictly limited.
The ASIST course will… – Help participants to hear, see and respond to suicide signals – Prepare participants to apply suicide first aid with family, friends, colleagues etc – Develop confidence in being direct and asking about suicide if there are concerns – Introduce ways in which participants could deal with the immediate risk of suicide by talking to them and ensuring they know there is help available to them – Help participants to recognise what vulnerable people may need from others to help keep them safe
The ASIST Course dates for 2010 are as follows: January 13th & 14th Portlaoise February 3rd & 4th Mullingar March 3rd & 4th Athlone March 31st & 1st April Tullamore April 21st & 22nd Longford May 12th & 13th Portlaoise June 3rd & 4th Mullingar June 23rd & 24th Athlone July 13th & 14th Tullamore September 8th & 9th Portlaoise October 6th & 7th Mullingar October 27th & 28th Longford November 17th & 18th Athlone December 9th & 10th Tullamore
To book places on the A.S.I.S.T. Programme, please contact Finola Henry, Suicide Resource Service, on 057 93 27909 (finola.henry@hse.ie) or Josephine Rigney 086-8157850 (josephine.rigney@hse.ie)
For further information, please download the official ASIST leaflet here.
DelvinVillage.ComDelvin, Co. Westmeath
