Youth centre to host suicide first aid workshop.
Diane McNulty.
File
A new workshop is offering suicide intervention training for adults who work around youth.
The Kanata Haven Youth Centre is hosting the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a two-day workshop offered through LivingWorks, to provide adults and caregivers the opportunity to learn how to help someone at risk.
“This is for coaches, anyone that’s a leader or works with youth or anyone that’s interested,” said Diane McNulty, program director at the Haven. “This would be good for ... anyone working around youth and the vulnerable sector.”
LivingWorks grew out of a need for a foundation workshop in suicide first aid due to “a lack of adequate suicide intervention gatekeeper training among both community helpers and clinical professionals,” according to the website.
McNulty has taken the course herself.
“What you learn is invaluable,” she said. “It’s a really, really good workshop.”
The ASIST workshop fits in to the Haven’s Not Alone! project, an initiative to educate people about mental health and suicide. The program is also a support service for youth in the Kanata area who may be dealing with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide.
“It puts the power back in the community,” said McNulty The training teaches leaders how to spot the signs, as well as what to do if someone approaches them about suicidal thoughts and how to connect them to available resources.
“This will teach you exactly what to do,” said McNulty.
Similar to first-aid training, the ASIST workshop will create simulations of real-life situations. There are only 15 spots available for the hands-on workshop. March 28 is the deadline to register and those who attend must be available both April 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The training will be held at the Lion Dick Brule Community Centre, 170 Castlefrank Rd. The cost is $180 per person and includes an intervention handbook, certificate and lunch.
“It’s a small, intimate workshop,” said McNulty, adding depending on the community response the Haven hopes to host more training sessions in the future.
For more information or to register, email diane@kanatahavenyouthcentre.com, and for details on the training, visit livingworks.net.