The South Cariboo Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is holding Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) training sessions at the end of September.
The program, called Community Gatekeeper, is run by Kathy Provost, a community mental health worker and ASIST trainer at the CMHA.
“Community Gatekeeper training offers simple, life-saving, suicide intervention skills that anyone can, and should, learn,” she said in a media release.
“Much like first aid, having the knowledge, skills and confidence to help someone at risk can be the difference between life and death.”
Across BC, CMHA has been working to train 20,000 Community Gatekeepers over the past three years.
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The workshop focuses on recognizing people at risk, talking, listening and understanding these people, keeping them safe and connecting them with appropriate support and resources.
According to the CMHA, suicide is the leading cause of death for people 15 to 24-years old and over 500 people in British Columbia commit suicide every year.
The B.C. Interior Health Authority reported 13 suicides in the 100 Mile House Local Health Area from 2013 to 2017.
“Our goal is to make 100 Mile House a safer place to live,” said Provost.
“Community Gatekeepers are in the unique position of being able to help prevent suicide and save lives in our community. Not just as first responders, but as elders, teachers, clergy and coaches. We’d like to help train people in every workplace, organization and the community at large.”
The program will run at the 70 Mile Community Hall from Sept. 24 to 25 and at the Interlakes Community Hall from Sept. 27 to 28. To register for the training, phone the CMHA South Cariboo Branch at 250-395-4883. There is no cost to attend.
beth.audet@100milefreepress.net
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