Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Provides key skills to recognize, intervene, and assist those at risk for suicide. Includes identifying appropriate strategies to keep an individual safe. Upon successful completion, students will earn a certificate in ASIST, valid for 5 years.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (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. 

The course will be a combination of 2 full days of in-person instruction + online delivery.

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.

NOTE: This is a class on suicide first aid. We will talk openly and honestly about suicide.  More information on ASIST can be found here: ASIST

Talking about suicide and exploring this topic may bring up strong emotions.  It is highly recommended that students enrolled in any human services course access professional counseling.  Counseling is free to all PCC students: About PCC Counseling