Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for Trainers

ASIST Training for Trainers (T4T) is a five day practice orientated residential course that teaches participants to deliver (in pairs) two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). A challenging and intensive course, the T4T teaches participants the content of ASIST and the skills needed to deliver workshops.

T4T is appropriate for candidates who have experience of supporting people at risk of suicide. The success of a trainer is greatly enhanced by a combination of skills and characteristics such as:

• available with dedicated time to deliver training
• flexible attitude about suicide,
• good interpersonal communication and helping skills,
• suicide intervention skills,
• knowledge about suicide,
• established teaching and group leadership skills.

The Course Format

Attendance at the full five days plus one evening through the week is essential. The first two days are spent participating in an ASIST workshop, facilitated by two coaching trainers. We require that you have already attended an ASIST workshop before attending T4T, to ensure you have a full understanding of what will be expected and whether you are fully comfortable with the content of the course. These two days will then serve as a refresher.

The next three days are spent on coaching sessions and practicing the content of the workshops with feedback received throughout. This will allow you to gain confidence in delivering the materials in a friendly and supportive environment.

There is a final debrief on the Friday afternoon where you will have an opportunity to discuss the practicalities of organising workshops and will be given information on how to order materials and access support from both Choose Life and LivingWorks.

Selection Criteria

Local Choose Life Coordinators or national agencies may sponsor and propose candidates for training, or individuals can apply. Selection for T4T will take into account participant skills and individual contribution to the trainer pool both locally and nationally. Becoming an ASIST trainer requires dedication, focus and time. Attendance at all T4T sessions is mandatory with significant time needed to prepare for workshops (around 30 hours for the first few as you become familiar with the materials). However, trainers' feedback remains very positive with some trainers holding ten-plus workshops per year and many exceeding their targeted numbers of three workshops in the first year.

To become an ASIST trainer, it is highly recommended that you have:

• completed a 2-day ASIST workshop
• familiarity with Choose Life and your local Choose Life activities
• experience of delivering training
• support from your employer
• an open mind about suicide and the ability to talk openly about the subject

How to Apply for ASIST T4T

First ensure you have read:

ASIST T4T Essential Information

LivingWorks Essential Information for Candidate Trainers

ASIST T4T Candidate Trainer Information

To apply, you need to send to us:

ASIST T4T Question for Candidates

ASIST T4T Candidate Sponsor Form

ASIST T4T Candidate Trainer Agreement Form

ASIST Tainer Contact Form

Please send to Rashda Ismail at:

Email: rashda.ismail@health.scot.nhs.uk

Post: Choose Life
        NHS Health Scotland
        Elphinstone House
        4th Floor
        65 West Regent Street
        Glasgow
        G2 2AF

For a paper copy of these documents, please contact a member of the Choose Life Training SupportTeam on 0141 354 2912.

After the T4T

Having successfully completed T4T, you will become a Provisional LivingWorks ASIST Trainer and LivingWorks require that you hold three workshops within one year to become fully registered and one per year thereafter to maintain your status. In Scotland, however, we expect trainers to deliver three workshops per year on an ongoing basis. All workshops must be facilitated by at least two trainers so it is useful to either attend the course with a training partner or link with your local Choose Life group beforehand.

New trainers are supplied with the necessary trainer materials to enable them to deliver both ASIST and  SuicideTALK. After T4T, support is provided by the Choose Life training team and local consulting trainers.