FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii- Soldiers of all ranks from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command identify intervention techniques during, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) 27-28 January.
According to statistics provided by Living Works Education, in 2012 out of a population of three hundred and thirteen million people in the United States, an estimated fifteen million struggled with thoughts of suicide, and over forty thousand reported suicides were committed.
"While such statistics may be debatable and elusive to pin down, we can all agree that even one suicide is one too many" explains Chaplain (Col.) Ken Revell, 94th AAMDC Chaplain.
The training starts off with an in depth survey that allows the Soldiers to get in tune with their feelings, emotions, and thoughts. The purpose of the survey is to reintroduce the Soldier to their self and open the doorway for dialogue.
Today's topic of discussion, suicide, a focus that is huge on the army front. For years the Army has focused on suicide prevention and awareness through programs such as shoulder to shoulder training; along with the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii "Take a Stand"- campaign that is designed to educate our service members on how to identify warning signs, and how to not be a bystander and take action against suicidal behavior.
In addition to prevention and postvention the ASIST program focuses on increasing the safety of persons with thoughts of suicide.
"ASIST centers on intervention and the application of first aid procedures to the persons at risk," explains Revell.
"This training is not a run-of-the-mill PowerPoint presentation in which attendees sit still while we instill, it employs a dynamic, engaging, transformational skills-based learning approach, with a focus on training, would-be care givers to effectively perform first aid procedures on persons at risk" said Revell.
The first aid approach is aimed at providing the care giver the knowledge and techniques to keep the individual at risk safe-for-now, by helping them out of the suicidal frame of mind.
During training the Soldiers were introduced to the "Pathway for Assisting Life" (PAL) module, this part of the course teaches the Soldiers how to connect, understand the story, and develop a safe plan, for the person at risk; while allowing the individual at risk to share their story and be heard.
"This training is really eye opening in regards to suicide, and how what affects one, affects us all", shares Pfc. Araselis Billini, 94th AAMDC Orderly Room Clerk.
Billini, who had her own encounter dealing with suicide when a battle buddy from basic training displayed some suicidal behavior, explains how this course has expanded her knowledge and she now looks at suicide with a new set of eyes.
"It helped me realize that everyone plays a part when it comes to saving a life," said Billini. "Although I am not a mental health counselor or doctor, this course has supplied me with the information I need to help someone who is dealing with thoughts of suicide, and get them to a safe mind frame, until other resources become available".
The two day course provides curriculum through, thought-provoking vignettes, videos, staged scenarios, guided discussions and a series of carefully- crafted three-dimensional individual and collective exercises to infuse intervention skills and maximize the training effect.
For Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sherrie Campbell, 94th AAMDC ASIST Trainer and Sharp Program Manager, providing ASIST training to the Soldiers helps build a stronger community for the persons who are at risk.
"It takes a community to help a person who is thinking of suicide," shares Campbell. "Suicide doesn't just affect the person at risk; it affects everyone who is connected to them".
"The way to prevention is through education, in this course we stress that if you can keep a person at risk alive for one more day, you have succeeded," said Campbell.
The Certified ASIST trainers included Chaplain (Col.) Ken Revell and Chief Warrant Officer Sherrie Campbell from the 94th AAMDC and Chaplain (Maj.) Dan Rice, the U.S Army Garrison Hawaii Community South Chaplain. All three are schooled in "Living Works Curriculum" and spearheaded the training as part of the 94th AAMDC resiliency line of effort. Programs that promote resiliency such as ASIST, SHARP, Strong Bonds, and Religious Support, are designed to promote comprehensive soldier and family fitness in the 94th AAMDC footprint.
"Ensuring every Soldier is ready, willing, and able at the end of this course, is one of our main goals."
Brig. Gen. Eric Sanchez, commanding general for the 94th AAMDC views this course as a priority and wants to ensure that all Soldiers from the 94th AAMDC are one hundred percent ASIST trained.
This is the second course that has been given since the commanding general shared his guidance and intent for the training, and will continue on throughout the year with the next class starting in March.
Information about ASIST training and what it provides can be found on these websites http://www.army.mil/article/142033/ASIST/ or www.livingworks.net
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