GBC students participated in training to support people with suicidal thoughts in the community.
The Community Care Centre (CCC) hosted a free Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) for students over two days earlier this month.
The number of students registered for the training exceeded the available spots.
During the two-day training, participants learned how to spot suicidal signs and symptoms in conversations. They also learned the skills to approach people with suicidal thoughts, moderate heightened situations and create safety plans.
“The GBC community deserves to have the knowledge and skills to offer support during all types of crises, including suicide intervention,” said Samantha MacRae, support staff harm reduction worker with CCC. “Talking to attendees over the two-day training solidified my belief in the importance of suicide first aid and the need to bring this conversation to campus.”
One of the highlights of the training was that participants got chances to role play either a person with thoughts or a caregiver. Participants were divided into two groups. They each found one to two partners and created the role-play.
The participants gave each other feedback, received comments from the instructor, and presented to the group the scenarios they created and one thing they felt they did well in the situation,
“I was so nervous doing the role play out there, I even asked participants who were watching for help in the middle of the conversation because I didn’t know how to proceed, and they gave me directions to continue. It’s a supportive group and everybody is giving constructive feedback,” said Ash Rashid. “I registered for this training because I felt that it would be useful in my personal life, supporting my friends and family as well as my professional life as a social service provider.”
Participants who completed the full training were certified at the end of the training.
“It has been a long-time goal of the Community Care Centre’s to bring ASIST to campus and I feel truly grateful to hear students share the impact this certification will have on their careers, placements and personal lives.” MacRae concluded.
