UNISON Ulearn Northern Ireland

This course is available free to UNISON members and is delivered by the West Belfast Suicide Awareness & Support Group.

As part of UNISON’s commitment to continuing professional development we are offering the ASIST Suicide Intervention training targeted at nurses, social workers and ambulance staff. However, it may be of interest to members working with vulnerable groups.

Applied Suicide Skills Intervention Training (ASIST) will facilitate participants to be ready and able to help people in suicide crises situations. The training is recognised by Health Trusts and DHSSPS and a certificate of attendance will be available for registration.

Description of ASIST
A two day training course, with an emphasis on suicide first aid and helping a person at risk stay safe and seek further help. Attendance at the full two days is essential. ASIST was developed by Living Works Education in Canada.

ASIST has five learning sections:

Preparing - sets the tone, norms, and expectations of the learning experience.

Connecting - sensitizes participants to their own attitudes towards suicide. Creates an understanding of the impact which attitudes have on the intervention process.

Understanding - overviews the intervention needs of a person at risk. It focuses on providing participants with the knowledge and kills to recognise risk and develop their skills through observation and supervised simulation experiences in large and small groups.

Assisting - presents a model for effective suicide intervention. Participant develop their skills through observation and supervised simulation experiences in large and small groups.

Networking - generates information about resources in the local community. Promotes a commitment by participants to recognise and develop safeplans to reduce risk of suicide and to transform local resources into helping networks.

Emphasising structured small-group discussions and practice, the course uses a 20-page workbook and two audiovisuals. Participants receive a 154-page Suicide Intervention Handbook and a colour, laminated pocket card featuring intervention, risk review and safeplan development principles

Places are limited, if you would like to attend this training, please return an application form

Date April 28th & 29th 2008 (in partnership with Belfast Trust)
Location UNISON Belfast

Date May 29th & 30th (in partnership with Belfast Trust) Location UNISON Belfast

Date: June 2008 (date tbc) Location: UNISON, Belfast

Please complete an expression of interest form to register your interest in future ASIST courses. You can download an application form here or apply online