First aid course aims to reduce suicide rates

More than 3,000 people have undergone suicide first aid training over the past two years in an effort to reduce suicide rates nationally.

The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Asist) course is a two-day interactive workshop funded by the HSE through the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

The concept is that just as CPR skills make physical first aid possible, training in suicide intervention develops the skills used in suicide first aid.

More than 70 trainers have been taught to deliver the workshop since 2004 and more than 125 workshops have been given to in excess of 3,000 participants.

Participants include health workers, teachers, community workers, gardaí, youth workers, volunteers and concerned parents. They are trained to recognise risk and learn how to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

In the west, the Galway Lion's Club has just come on board to raise awareness of the Asist programme in conjunction with the HSE West and Aware throughout the city and county.

Resource officer for suicide prevention with the HSE West Mary O'Sullivan said the programme was being rolled out throughout Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

"It's basically a first aid programme that trains people what to say or do if they are concerned that somebody they know might be thinking about suicide," she said.

"The aim of the Asist programme is to raise awareness about suicide and its prevention within communities all around the country while also equipping people with the skills to respond appropriately."

Ms O'Sullivan said the workshops involved small groups that encouraged honest, open and direct talk about suicide. Participants are asked to consider how their personal attitudes and experiences might affect their role in helping a person at risk.

Livingworks, the Canadian developers of Asist, claim the training programme has had a significant impact on reducing the suicide rate in Canada over the past 12 years.

If you would like to take part in an Asist workshop or get further information about suicide prevention, contact your local HSE resource officer or the National Office for Suicide Prevention at Dublin, tel: 01-6352139, Cork 021-6352139 or Galway 091-548424.