Fort Polk, La. -- A group of 12 people took time out of their lives Sept. 12-16 to learn how to train others in preventing suicide during a five-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, train the trainer program. According to www.armyg1.army.mil, ASIST T4T equips personnel with the ability to train ASIST. ASIST T4T certification requires individuals to complete a five-day course and conduct three ASIST two-day classes within the first year after training and one session for each year thereafter. Larry Bryant, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk's Suicide Prevention Program Manager and ASIST Training Coordinator, said, "The program we just went through teaches participants how to become trainers that can go into the community to educate others through the ASIST program. Having this class gives us 12 more trainers to teach the Fort Polk community and train everyone from housewives to Soldiers how to perform a suicide intervention with someone who has expressed self-harm intents or may be in the process of suicide. They can do an intervention and buy time to get them professional help."
The new trainers will teach two-day sessions of the ASIST program, which is an Army G1 approved suicide intervention skill training. It is recommended for gatekeepers -- individuals who, in the performance of their assigned duties and responsibilities, provide specific counseling to Soldiers and civilians in need. Primary gatekeepers include chaplains, chaplain assistants, Army Substance Abuse Program counselors, military police, Red Cross workers and first-line supervisors. The training prepares gatekeepers to recognize at risk individuals and intervene to prevent suicidal thoughts from becoming suicidal behaviors, according to www.armyg1.army.mil.
Anyone can take ASIST training, but Bryant said it is an important tool for Soldiers. "What I like about ASIST when it comes to Soldiers, especially the squad leaders, is that it allows them to do a quality risk review with their Soldier. They can pick up on things that their Soldier is or isn't telling them and maybe get to some of the underlying issues that Soldiers need help dealing with. It equips military or civilian supervisors with a skill enhancer to do counseling sessions with their folks and can head off problems before they get too bad. One thing we don't want to do is ignore things that we should be able to see and end up with a tragic situation that could have been prevented," said Bryant.
One of the Soldiers taking the T4T ASIST training was Sgt. Richard Bowers, 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. He said the training opened his eyes and changed his outlook on suicide in general. "There are a lot of taboo issues that this training sheds a light on. You discover what suicide really is and its causes. Not many people are comfortable talking about suicide and this definitely allows you to see it from a different perspective," said Bowers. "I think it's going to be a learning tool that makes Soldiers more aware of the signs of suicide. The program can do a lot of good and be something people will actually use. Obviously, the more people that are trained, the better it will be. There will be more eyes out there, more people that are going to know what to do when they see somebody possibly thinking about taking their own life."
As a civilian, Debbra Hooks, Risk Reduction Program Coordinator for ASAP, said the ASIST training taught her that everyone has their own belief about what suicide is. "This training gives you an overall look at suicide and makes the subject more approachable. It gives you the skills to ask a person about suicide. A lot of times we don't want to ask because it can be uncomfortable," said Hooks.
She said the program also teaches people not to immediately refer someone who needs help dealing with suicide, but to handle the situation themselves.
Hooks said she is excited about training others once she is completely comfortable with the material. "It's a lot of information to absorb," said Hooks.
Bryant said now that training is over, trainers need to train others in suicide prevention. "They need to set a date and do it," said Bryant.
Information on ASIST training is also available at www.livingworks.net.
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