ASIST

This last week I had the opportunity to attend an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and I would like to briefly share some of the skills I learned. One thing that really stuck with me was the idea of CPR ++, a tool that can help one remember what to do when someone admits to being suicidal. First, now that it is ALWAYS okay to ask someone if they are suicidal. If someone you love is showing signs and symptoms of depression, ask them, "Are you thinking of committing suicide?" If the answer is, "Yes." Start CPR ++. The "C" stands for "Current Plan of Action." This is when you can asked your loved one. "Do you know how or when you would commit suicide?" If they have a plan of action, disable it. This may mean removing pills, guns, or other dangerous items from their possession. The "P" stands for "Pain." Allow your loved one to express their pain, no matter how hard it is to hear it. You must listen to their reasons for wanting to die before they will open up to reasons for living. The "R" is "Resources." Ask the person if there is anyone else they have told about how they are feeling, or if there is anyone they would be willing to open up to. It is not reasonable for you to become a person's counselor unless you are trained to do so but it will be helpful to set them up with resources that can offer them long term support, a counselor and a 24 hour hotline at a minimum. The "++" represent two other important questions to ask, "Have you ever tried to commit suicide before?" and "Have you ever been to a counselor before?" These questions can be pertinent to their recovery. I encourage everyone to seek out a training like this because this is only a brief overview of what I learned. You never know when you may need to employ these tactics to save a life!