SIREN Seminar Series

The SIREN Seminar Series has been developed to allow a more in-depth focus on current issues that impact on suicide prevention research and encourage a more active dialogue between evidence and practice. These events will allow practitioners, researchers and policy planners the opportunity to engage informally and learn together.

SEMINAR 3: "The Evaluation of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)"

Our previous dissemination events have raised important discussion on the links between self-harm and suicide risk in young people and the benefits of postvention with those bereaved through suicide. These were intended to update SIREN members and colleagues, informing both policy and practice on this crucial issue.

The latest events were held in June and disseminated the findings of the Scottish Government commissioned independent evaluation of ASIST.

Presenting Speakers

Dawn Griesbach (Griesbach & Associates)

Dawn is the Director and Principal Researcher of Griesbach & Associates. She established the company in 2005 after working for two years as a senior researcher and project manager for the Scottish Government. She has also previously worked as a researcher in academic and NHS organisations. Dawn's particular expertise lies in the areas of mental health, addiction, community care and criminal justice. She has experience of undertaking research on vulnerable populations including children and young people, people with mental health problems and survivors of sexual abuse. Dawn has an honours degree in social anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MSc in economic and social history from the University of Edinburgh. She often works in association with other researchers. In undertaking the evaluation of ASIST, she worked together with Patricia Russell (Patricia Russell & Associates), Rona Dolev (Dolev & Associates), Clare Lardner (Clarity).

Dawn and her colleagues presented the main findings from the national evaluation of ASIST.

A summary of this Scottish Government-funded research can be downloaded here:

ASIST Evaluation Report Summary 

The full report is available on the Scottish Government Website via this link:

ASIST Evaluation Report

The literature review from the report is also available as an annex report via this link:

ASIST Evaluation (Literature Review Annex)

Dawn Presenting To Stakeholders at Perth Concert Hall

SPEAKERS

Liz Martin, Learning & Development Adviser (Choose Life), NHS Health Scotland & Greig Ferguson, Training Co-ordinator (Choose Life), NHS Health Scotland

Liz has managed and developed the training function of Choose Life since 2007, bringing considerable skill and experience to a demanding and challenging role. Greig has supported the development of training as a key mechanism in Choose Life for two years and has been a skilled and passionate advocate for this. Liz & Greig reported on strategic and operational progress in response to the evaluation findings and provided an update on future planning on suicide prevention training in Scotland.

ASIST Trainer / Research Advisory Group Members

Input was provided by key trainers with considerable experience of delivering ASIST to people from a range of professional disciplines and in communities across Scotland. The trainers provided a perspective on the findings of the research and outlined the key benefits of ASIST. These trainers included: Brian Young, Ciara Byrne, Rona Slevin and Willie McBride

The events were held in Perth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh City and in June 2008.

Round Table Discussions at Glasgow Concert Hall

Presentations from the events are available for download below:

Dawn Griesbach & Associates 

Choose Life Training Team Response

ASIST Trainer / RAG Member Response 

PREVIOUSLY HELD SIREN EVENTS

SIREN's second seminar events in Stirling and Edinburgh, held in February 2008 focused on Suicide and Postvention.

Guest Speakers:

Dr Catriona McDaid, Research Fellow, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York

Catriona is a Research Fellow at CRD. She has a BSc and PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Science Communication. She has been involved in conducting systematic reviews for the past five years for a range of agencies such as the DoH Policy Research Programme, NICE and National Cancer Research Network. Prior to joining CRD she was involved in research related to mental health in the community with a voluntary organisation and also related to nurse education with a regulatory body.

She described and presented key findings of the recent systematic review on the effectiveness of interventions for people bereaved by suicide. This promoted group discussion of it's implications for practice in Scotland.

Sandra De Munoz, Choose Life Co-ordinator, Edinburgh City.

Sandra is an experienced practitioner and Choose Life co-ordinator who has championed suicide prevention in Scotland through training to improve mental health and reduce suicide, collaborative strategic partnerships and has specialist interest in support for those bereaved by suicide.

She described and discussed her experiences in this role and emphasised the potential benefits which can be gained from professional links with the procurator fiscal service, police, public health and forensic medicine in supporting those bereaved by suicide.

 Sandra DeMunoz (Left) and Dr Catriona McDaid

Download the SIREN Seminar 2 Report, which contains issues raised in the table discussions at the events and copies of the speakers presentations.

OTHER PREVIOUS SEMINAR EVENTS

SEMINAR 1: 'Hidden Harm: Young People, Self Harm & Suicide'

Our first dissemination events held in Perth and Glasgow in October 2007 raised important discussion on the links between self-harm behaviour in young people and suicide risk. These were intended to update SIREN members and colleagues, informing both policy and practice on this crucial issue. These free events were held in October and focused on the experiences of young people who self harm.

Presenting Speakers

Dawn Griesbach (Griesbach & Associates)

"A new Scottish Government funded qualitative study on the links between self harm and suicide in young people".

This Scottish Government funded research was presented and an online summary can be viewed here:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/197969/0052908.pdf

Joanne McLean (Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health)

"Factors influencing self harm in young people in and implications for developing services and community responses".

This recent study was presented of the experience of young people in Perth & Kinross who self harm which also explored recommendations for local services.

Invited speakers Joanne McLean (Left) and Dawn Griesbach

The events were held at Perth Concert Hall on October 29^th, 

and St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow on October 30^th.

Download the SIREN_SEMINAR_1_REPORT, which contains issues raised in the table discussions at the events and copies of the speakers presentations.

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