ASIST is a two-day practical workshop developing skills through observation and supervised simulation in large and small groups. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is intended as 'suicide first-aid' training. ASIST aims to enable helpers (anyone in a position of trust) to become more willing, ready and able to recognise and intervene effectively to help persons at risk of suicide. With over one million people trained in suicide intervention skills, ASIST is by far the most widely used suicide intervention skills training in the world. As a suicide intervention programme it is based on certain fundamental assumptions about suicide:

• suicide is a community-wide health problem
• suicide is not mental illness
• thoughts of suicide are understandable, complex and personal
• suicide can be prevented
• most people with thoughts of suicide want to live
• most people with thoughts of suicide indicate, directly or indirectly, that they want help to live
• help-seeking is encouraged by open, direct and honest talk about suicide
• the best way to identify people with thoughts of suicide is to ask them directly about their thoughts
• relationships are the context of suicide intervention
• intervention should be the main suicide prevention focus
• cooperation is the essence of intervention
• intervention skills are known and can be learned
• large numbers of people can be taught intervention skills
• evidence of effectiveness should be broadly defined.

Finding an ASIST workshop

ASIST is delivered locally by a network of ASIST trainers. Find an ASIST workshop near you (external link).

Evaluating the ASIST programme

ASIST evaluations have shown that participants have substantially higher levels of knowledge, confidence and skills in relation to intervening with someone at risk of suicide and that these increases were maintained over time.

• View the 2008 evaluation of the ASIST suicide intervention training course.

Training to be able to deliver ASIST training

If you have attended ASIST and would like to become an ASIST Trainer please visit the ASIST Training For Trainers area.