Suicide Intervention
Certification
Learn the life-saving skills of Suicide Intervention by taking the ASIST course, a two-day certification for anyone interested in helping people through thoughts of suicide.
ASIST: The World’s leading Suicide Intervention Training
ASIST is an evidence-based, internationally recognized training program. Created by LivingWorks Education, and updated regularly to reflect current best practices, the ASIST course is designed for anyone - not just professional helpers. All people can learn to be live-saving caregivers through this certificate course.
While many people shy away from speaking about suicide, we know that talking about suicide openly and honestly breaks the stigma of people looking for help. We also know that providing evidence-based training - like the ASIST course - saves lives. Suicide is a complex challenge facing our community - suicide thoughts, and behaviour can impact anyone.
Completing the ASIST course will prepare you to see the warning signs of suicide, talk openly with someone about their suicide thoughts, provide a life-saving intervention, and create a safety plan for their continued support. Whether you’re a counselor, a teacher, a frontline worker, a parent, a friend, a neighbour…if you interface with humans you will have the opportunity to save a life. ASIST will give you the skills needed to feel ready, willing, and able to have this conversation.
ASIST is a two-day face-to-face workshop featuring engaging audiovisuals, group discussions, and practice simulations designed with adult learning principles in mind. Throughout the highly-participatory course, you will learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing common signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to help keep someone alive.
In addition to learning practical skills and tools, you will have the unique opportunity to explore your own thoughts and feelings towards suicide. Your facilitators will create a safe and supportive container to dive into these thought-provoking conversations. While ASIST is not therapy, it can be very therapeutic, especially for those of us who have lost someone to suicide.
“You broke down a very difficult topic into a way that I now feel comfortable doing an intervention.”
ASIST Facilitators
Maureen has been facilitating ASIST workshops across British Columbia since 2012. Now considered a ‘Master Trainer’, Maureen has taught ASIST to diverse communities and organizations including non-profit organizations, school districts, counselors, fire departments, government agencies, LGBTQ community groups, and First Nations both on and off-reserve. Maureen’s knowledge is informed by over ten years of experience providing suicide intervention and crisis response on crisis lines and chat crisis services. Her facilitation style is playful, and empowering as she strives to create a supportive and compassionate space for learning and exploration in every course.
ASIST is facilitated by two certified LivingWorks Facilitators. Maureen partners with colleagues across Canada, all of whom have a minimum of 5 years of experience teaching ASIST, have been frontline crisis response workers, and bring a trauma-informed approach to their work.
Events
ASIST Certification
February 4 & 5, 2025
Vancouver, BC
Take the two-day ASIST workshop in person in Vancouver, BC. All caring humans are welcome - no prior experience in crisis response or suicide intervention is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The ASIST workshop is designed for any caring human. No matter what your profession, you can be part of our suicide-safer community by learning these lifesaving intervention skills. No previous helping experience or professional skills are needed in order to learn the ASIST framework.
-
Intervention skills are like any skills, we’re more likely to respond with skill when our knowledge is fresh. It’s recommended that if you are not using the ASIST framework regularly that you take a Refresher course every 3 years. The ASIST framework is updated regularly to incorporate new knowledge, so if it’s been more than 5 years since you took ASIST it’s recommended that you take the course again to learn the refresh your knowledge and learn the newest language and framework.
-
In order to create a safe learning environment for all, ASIST is only offered in person.
-
One of the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased awareness that mental health is a workplace issue. As we return to the workplace we’re seeing more and more companies acknowledging the need for increased mental health care and support.
Just like physical health, we all have mental health - and we are all vulnerable to mental illness. When we’re mentally unwell we often show our struggles to those around us - whether consciously sharing what’s going on, or subconsciously asking for help. The amount of time we spend at work provides a unique opportunity for us to see one another, and to notice these signs of struggle or mental illness in our colleagues - possibly even before their friends or family.
Suicide interventions take many different forms. Ideally, we’re able, as a community, to acknowledge and support people who are thinking about suicide long before they act on those thoughts. Providing suicide intervention skills training and other mental health supports and services to your organization is one way to show your support of employee mental wellness.
What People Are Saying about ASIST
“Maureen was a terrific facilitator, so welcoming, encouraging, informative and supportive. A steady and calm influence surrounding a challenging topic.”
— Pamela, Counsellor
“I don’t even know how to begin to describe my appreciation for the approach, character, support, and effectiveness of Maureen as a trainer. I can only hope to offer as much care to those whose paths I cross in this capacity.”
— John, Paramedic
“Phenomenal energy, thorough answers to our questions and lots of patience and direction to find our own answers. Thank you. Your knowledge and grace around teaching was amazing!”