Suicide prevention training – safeTALK and ASIST

As a part of the Melton and Brimbank Suicide Prevention Trial, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) commissioned Uniting Care to provide safeTALK and ASIST training.  The training increased the capacity of community, frontline workers and clinical professionals to provide best-practice responses to people at risk of suicide in their communities.  

SafeTALK is a suicide alertness workshop that prepares participants to become suicide alert helpers. Through training, participants are equipped with the skills to identify when someone may be experiencing suicidality, and respond by connecting them to appropriate resources, supports, and services.    

ASIST is a multi-day training program that builds upon SafeTALK and provides participants with a more comprehensive training model that includes: 

• Identifying the signs of suicidality 
• Responding to the signs of suicidality  
• Assessing the risk and immediate safety of someone who may be at risk of suicide 
• Providing linkages to further help and support to someone experiencing suicidality

Uniting Care facilitated 24 training sessions, comprising:

• 17 safeTALK sessions, with 249 participants.
• 7 ASIST training sessions, with 65 participants.

Participants included those identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community.

One ASSIST training session was targeted towards the Sudanese community within the NWMPHN catchment, in response to growing concerns within the community regarding the high rates of suicidal behaviour, particularly among young people. This session was attended by respected elders, providing them with skills to support their community.