AS+K? About Suicide to Save a Life is a workshop for adults who may interact with youth or adults at risk for suicide. The program provides participants with an overview of the basic epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior, including risk and protective factors. Participants are trained to recognize warning signs—behaviors and characteristics that might indicate elevated risk for suicidal behavior—and how to intervene with a person they think might be at risk for suicide. Using role-playing, participants practice asking other participants about suicidal thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Participants are trained to respond to someone expressing direct suicidal communication by seeking emergency care. Participants are also trained to gather more information about a person’s risk and take action consistent with that risk.
As+K Work Goals:
The overall goal of the AS+K? About Suicide to Save a Life workshop is to enable the audience to become suicide prevention gatekeepers to learn to:
- Know basic info about suicide prevalence, risk and protective factors and warning signs
- Understand the role of the gatekeeper in suicide prevention
- Understand that suicide can be prevented from a public health perspective
- Have the confidence to respond
- Connect someone at risk to qualified care