Shenandoah University, in partnership with the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia, will host the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) for faculty and staff on Aug. 15-16, from 8:20 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Thursday/Friday, August 15-16, in Winchester (location TBD).
ASIST is the most widely used intervention skills training in the United States. This is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk for suicide, intervene to prevent immediate harm and help persons at risk participate in planning for safety whenever possible.
Just as CPR skills make physical first aid possible, ASIST teaches the skills used in suicide prevention first aid.
ASIST is often used by people in a variety of school, campus and community roles. It is for all caregivers (any person in a position of trust, regardless of the age group served). Participants often include school and campus student support staff, community counselors, case workers, nurses, campus security/police, probation and correctional officers, clergy and natural helpers.
Because of the generous support of the Virginia Department of Health’s Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, this training will be offered at no cost to participants who work in Virginia. ASIST is typically valued at $275. All training materials will be provided.
Space is limited to 30 participants. Because of the demand for seats, please register only if you are able to attend the full two days and are not on call for other duties during that time. All participants will receive documentation for 14 hours of instruction. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for licensure are available upon request.
Registration is available online at https://campussuicidepreventionva.org/training/asist. Questions? Contact Nic Coleman, director of the Shenandoah University Counseling Center, at ncoleman@su.edu.