Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

ASIST is a class in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used in the health and human services fields, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the class; ASIST can be learned and used by anyone. The course is always taught by two registered ASIST trainers. 

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Articulate an understanding of the ways that personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions.
• Apply skillful guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk in ways that meet their individual safety needs.
• Identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it.
• Explain the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community at large, including life-promotion and self-care.

• Lecture
• Videos
• Case scenarios
• Small and large group discussion
• Applied skills practice and development
• Individual and group coaching

• In-class skills demonstration
• Quiz
• Case study analysis
• Reflective paper
• Analysis of Oregon Suicide Prevention Framework and Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Plan
• Review of relevant online suicide prevention resources
• Book reflection
• Develop suicide help and community resources guide
• Self-care / well-being plan