The Suicide Prevention Training Institute (SPTI) is offering an in-depth suicide prevention training to First Responder Gatekeepers. The LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is generally reserved for caregivers, first responders, and educators but anyone with a desire to learn skills to have a conversation with someone with thoughts of suicide are also encouraged to attend as they to have a Gatekeeper role. Attendees can expect to learn to spot warning signs, how to help someone who is experiencing crisis, and improve general counseling and listening skills.

Group classes may also be booked by contacting SPTI at spti@educatingtosavelives.org.
Gatekeeper suicide prevention training is one of several training models used in suicide prevention education and it has the potential to be a successful training model. Evaluations of gatekeeper training have demonstrated increases in knowledge and attitudes.

The logic of the gatekeeper training model is simple; train a broad audience of people to (1) recognize thoughts of suicide, (2) how to have a conversation with a person having thoughts of suicide, and (3) how to keep that person safe for now. When these three needs are met, help-seeking behaviors will increase, thus decreasing suicide attempts and deaths.

A gatekeeper can be any trusted person who has contact with a person having thoughts of suicide. A gatekeeper can be a professional or a friend, family member, or coworker. It may also be clergy/pastoral, counselor, educator, firefighter, youth worker, nurse, physician, volunteer, psychologist, social worker, transit worker, police/corrections, military, or chaplain.

The average American is much more likely to encounter someone who needs suicide intervention than someone who needs CPR. SPTI hopes to make suicide prevention as accessible as CPR and First Aid training.
SUICIDE - The word caught your attention, didn't it? The truth is, suicide catches everyone's attention. It's the action leading up to suicide that goes unnoticed…Author Unknown

“Suicide is one of the leading causes of death nationwide and the rates have increased over the last 2 decades. It is imperative that as a society, we do all we can to prevent these needless deaths. Suicide can be prevented and each of us has a role in the prevention efforts. One of the goals of SPTI is increasing the help seeking culture for at-risk personnel. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. During the ASIST Workshop we provide participants with the tools necessary to respond to individuals who are facing suicidal crisis. Participants learn the warning signs for someone who is a risk for suicide and learn to develop a plan for safety that can protect life! Suicide prevention education is for everyone. The more people we can train, the greater impact we can have to reduce the suicide rate.” -Dr. T.C. Copper