We need to talk about suicide

It saves lives.

A few days ago I attended a workshop to become certified in suicide first aid.

Perhaps you may think that this workshop would be a bit of a downer, but that wasn't my experience at all.

Some of the subject matter was deep and necessary but my overall experience was that this training is life-giving.

I took the training at a local university college. Most of the participants were either Resident Dons or members of a type of student events group and they made me so very hopeful for all of our futures! The room also included counsellors, an occupational therapist and many more without a professional title or letters behind their name. Like me.

Yet, all of us ended up being better equipped to help someone who is thinking of ending their life. Because sometimes people will reach out to a friend, loved one, or even a stranger before they ever consider notifying a therapist or mental health professional for help.

Can you imagine attending a suicide-safer school simply because there are people on campus who are trained to talk about suicide? Now imagine more public and private spaces becoming suicide-safer because people have become comfortable with talking about suicide and knowing how to help someone get the support they need.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) helps us know what we can do to help someone save their own life and keep them safe for now.

When I became certified in CPR and first aid, I quickly learned that I wasn't meant to take over the job of a first responder, doctor, or nurse. However, I now know what to do in an emergency situation until someone with more qualifications than I ever want could arrive and offer further assistance.

The same is true with ASIST.

The focus is on making you comfortable with having a conversation with someone who is thinking of engaging in suicidal behaviours and recognizing clues so that you can ask the very important question(s):

• Are you thinking about ending your life?

• Are you considering suicide?

• Do you want to kill yourself?

And when you ask this question or questions, you know that you're at the very beginning stage of helping them become safe for now. ASIST lets you practice moving from this initial stage to creating a safety plan.

When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was in excruciating pain, sometimes I wondered how I could make that pain end. When treatments for my RA became very expensive, I wondered how I could continue.

I've told you before that I've got amazing friends and family who I can call on for help when I need it. They've listened to me bitch and complain my way through my diagnosis and subsequent healing. They saw me sad, angry, and frustrated. I was really low at points and they reminded me that I was strong and that if anyone could handle this diagnosis I could because of what they knew about me.

And yet, no one ever asked me if I was thinking about ending my life.

I WAS thinking about it.

Thankfully, I only ever thought about it.

I am safe now and since I'm feeling better I'm not having those thoughts. (However, these thoughts can and have come up again since taking the training. You can read more about one time in particular by clicking here.)

I'm not sharing this to place blame or shame anyone.

I'm sure that I've missed the signs with people that I know. Even if I did recognize the signs, I didn't want them to get mad at me, or I didn't want to say the wrong thing and make the matter worse.

Now I'm alright with someone being angry if it means they're still alive.

There's a lot of stigma surrounding suicide and what became clear to me during ASIST is that anything can happen in our lives that can make us think about ending our pain.

What you wouldn't consider a "big deal" may be devastating to someone else. We're all different people. And yet I think it's important for everybody to know that change and loss no matter how big or small can deeply affect a person's quality of life and may make them consider ending their suffering when they don't know how to live with their pain.

Having gone through ASIST, I may be more attuned to warning signs, but that doesn't mean that I'm always going to be able to help. I can only do as much as I can at any given moment. However, the likelihood of me being able to offer support to someone who's considering suicide has increased significantly.

The least I can do is be better prepared to have a conversation with someone who is considering this choice.

So, in case I haven't been clear I highly recommend becoming trained in suicide first-aid.

I took the training through the company Life Voice Canada because the owner, Shawna Percy, practices what she teaches. She clearly explained the difference between Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid and helped me see that the skills in ASIST could be used across many areas of my life.

It helps you practice being a better listener while you connect and hold space for those who are in crisis.

I'm new to these skills, but I think it's important to let you know that I have them. Just in case. I'm here.

Also, I want you to know about the vault of crisis support resources that you can access on Life Voice Canada's site. Many are only available in Canada, but there are international and U.S. resources listed too. Click here to access free PDFs filled with resources for suicide prevention, as well as specific supports for pregnancy and infant loss, First Nations and Inuit, postpartum for parents, and LGBTQ+.

I don't make any money from referring you to Life Voice Canada and I haven't been asked to write about my experience. They're doing great work and I simply want you to know about them if you don't already.

ASIST is delivered in over 30 countries so I know that you can easily find workshops if you search for them. Hopefully, you can find one that you can attend. Or perhaps hire trainers to come to your work or organization.

Become informed and be a better helper.