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Spots open in ASIST suicide prevention training

newspaperValley Community Services Board, in partnership with Mental Health America, Augusta and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will host the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program on Thursday/Friday May 12-13, at the Christ Lutheran Church, 2807 N. Augusta St., Staunton.

There are six spaces left in this training session. Register by email at [email protected]. Provide your first and last name, email address, preferred phone contact number.

ASIST is the most widely used intervention skills training in the US. It is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk for suicide, intervene to prevent immediate harm and link persons at risk to the next level of care.

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 and community ‘gatekeepers’ or “front line” positions. It is for all caregivers (any person in a position of trust, regardless of the age group served).  It is suitable for all school-based student support staff, agency case workers, church youth workers, police/correctional/juvenile justice staff and foster care staff, clergy and all ‘natural helpers’ who work in the field of human service.

ASIST has been more recently used by ‘gatekeepers’ on college and university campuses. Participants often include a range of campus counselors and case managers, campus security, residence hall directors, campus ministry and any staff that provide direct service to others within the campus community.

Because of the generous support of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, this training will be offered at no cost to participant who work in Virginia, regardless of the age group served. ASIST is typically valued at $250. All training materials will be provided; meals will be provided by AFSP.

Space is limited to 30 participants per training. 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.

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