ASIST suicide prevention two-day training, April 3 and 4

NOVA, in partnership with the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia, will host the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). This critically important two-day  training will be held Thursday and Friday, April 3-4, 8:20 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in Fairfax, Va.

Why It Matters: ASIST is the most widely used intervention skills training in the U.S. It is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk for suicide, intervene to prevent immediate harm and help those at risk to make a safety plan whenever possible.

Just as CPR skills make physical first aid possible, ASIST teaches skills used in suicide prevention first aid.

ASIST is often used by people in a variety of school, campus and community roles. It is for all caregivers (any person in a position of trust, regardless of the age group served).  Participants often include school and campus student support staff, community counselors, case workers, nurses, campus security/police, probation and correctional officers, clergy and any ‘natural helper’ who works in the field of human service.

Because of the generous support of the Virginia Department of Health’s Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, this training will be offered at no cost to participants who work in Virginia. The ASIST training is typically valued at $275. All training materials will be provided. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Because of the demand for seats, please register only if you are able to attend for the full two days and are not on call for other duties during that time.

All participants will receive documentation for 14 hours of instruction. Some professional organizations offer CEUs for ASIST attendance. More information can be found here. or by checking with your own professional board.

Register online. When registering, select the Fairfax, Va. training being offered at Northern Virginia Community College. 

Contact Regina Sanders or Jane Wiggins, director of training for the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia.

—Regina Sanders, director, Office of Wellness and Mental Health