Workshop on suicide first aid basics

Last week, a two-day interactive workshop called “ASIST” was held at Sanctuary Family Worship Center in Jena, where participants from Jena, Pineville and Monroe learned the basics of suicide first aid.

ASIST, which stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, is a widely used program that teaches one to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

Workshops like ASIST are growing in need each year, as suicide has become the 3rd leading cause of death in young people (ages 10-34) in the state of Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

The ASIST program is hosted by Save Cenla, a non-profit organization “focused on providing the public with information and events that will promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.”

The workshop was taught by co-founders of the program, the husband and wife team, Andy and Angela Dixon, and lasted for two days, Wednesday, February 26 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The curriculum includes training on how to recognize the signs of suicide, what to do in the moment and ways to help a person considering suicide.

“There’s a difference between forcing someone to get help and getting the person to want to get help,” Angela Dixon said. “We train people on how to do the latter.”

“Yes. When someone is having suicidal thoughts or exhibiting any signs of suicide, we try to help them find areas that make them want to keep on living,” Andy Dixon added.

Though most popular with healthcare providers and law enforcement, the Dixons noted that the program is for anyone.

“Anyone 16 or older can take the course. If you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, member of the clergy, anyone, you need to attend an ASIST workshop,” Angela Dixon said. “The program is free to participants, and it counts for 12 continuing education hours for mental health professionals too.”

The program is made free for those attending through several sponsors, with their primary sponsor, the Central Louisiana Human Services District (CLHSD), providing a grant to help fund the classes.

“We host these workshops all over the state. We have hosted five in LaSalle Parish, and we have hosted trainings for the Louisiana State Police, 988 dispatchers, CASA, VOA, several sheriff’s offices, colleges, tribes and many other groups,” Angela shared. “We currently have funding for organizations within Cenla, so we encourage people to read out to us so we can bring ASIST to your business, church, school or organization.”

Most ASIST events are open to the public and upcoming events can be found on their website at www.savecenla.com.