Fort Belvoir, Va. (Sept. 4, 2014) - Servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians will learn first-aid intervention skills to help prevent the immediate risk of suicide during Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) at Barden Education Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 23-24.
ASIST is a LivingWorks program for formal and informal caregivers to enhance their skills to intervene with a person and prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
"The goal is to train caregivers on how to talk to someone who is thinking of committing suicide at that moment," said Milagros Frank, Directorate of Human Resources program, manager. "This is the 'I don't want to live anymore,' person, or the person standing on a bridge and you are the only person who can talk them off. This training teaches you how to talk out loud with someone in this state of mind."
Suggested participants include first-line supervisors, Family Advocacy Program workers, chaplains and chaplain assistants. Caregivers also consist of police officers, firefighters, nurses and doctors. They are usually the first responders to a potential suicide and need to know how to ask questions to properly talk down a prospective victim.
"These are the people in positions of trust," said Frank. "Sometimes, people just can't come out and say, 'are you thinking of killing yourself?' If you see someone on a bridge, your first question should be, 'Why are you standing there?'"
Body language and tone of voice are important factors when talking to someone considering suicide, said Frank. Projecting a caring demeanor is essential when speaking with someone who is suicidal.
"If I'm talking to you, but I'm looking the other direction or playing with something in my pocket does it seem like I'm really paying attention?" said Frank.
Assessing the situation is critical, too, said Frank. If a person is agitated don't scream or talk to them in an authoritative tone. Talk to them in a soothing manner to try and calm them down, said Frank.
"They may still be angry at first, but if you keep your tone soft you will notice their tone will come down," said Frank.
Caregivers will learn when to talk and not talk during the training as well. A person considering suicide may only be comfortable talking to someone they know and will resist sharing their feelings with a stranger, said Frank.
"If the person doesn't want to talk to you, you need to find someone they will talk to," said Frank. "Tell that person, 'I know you don't know me, so is there anyone I can call for you?' Sometimes, it takes that to save a life."
Servicemembers and DoD civilians interested in the training need to register with Frank by Sept. 19. They also must take both classes on the designated dates or they will not receive a certificate of completion, said Frank.
"You can't do one day, and then do the second day a week later," said Frank. "You have to do the two days. That's LivingWorks' rules."
Frank wants people to consider the Army's ongoing suicide problem when deciding whether or not to register.
"People say, 'Well, our numbers are better?'" said Frank. "So, because the numbers are lower, we are better? To me, better is when no more servicemembers are killing themselves."
To register for the ASIST course, call Milagros Frank at (703) 805-5529 or email her at Milagros.frank.civ@mail.mil.
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