PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND COMPETENCY IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR WORK AT YLC
Your Life Counts is committed to excellence in standards of care, guidance and support for youth & families. The prevention of suicide is not so specialized that only a few people can save lives. To the contrary, suicide prevention is everyone’s concern and everyone has opportunity to play their part in stopping suicide and saving lives. It’s important though to understand that there are proven ways to deal with someone who is suicidal and knowing what to do and what to say is important. That’s where training is good for everyone. When it comes to suicide prevention there’s always something new to learn.
YLC is committed to continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
YLC recommends the world leading, award winning training programs of Living Works based in Calgary, Alberta. The Living Works training programs are delivered around the world and are acknowledged as the benchmark training in suicide prevention worldwide.
YLC is honoured to work in association with Living Works.
“I am pleased to bring greetings from LivingWorks and to express our best wishes for the YLC Alliance and Share Reasons2Live initiatives. We have the same belief that suicide prevention is a community health concern and the exclusive domain of no one individual, group or organization.” – Richard Ramsey, President.
We do expect our volunteers to attend a suicide prevention training workshop and moving forward we will be facilitating these sessions for our volunteers as opportunity opens. Wherever possible we will be focusing on the Living Works training programs which include:
- ASIST
- safeTALK
- suicideTALK
- suicideCARE
Details of the 4 core programs of Living Works are included below.
The 2 programs YLC is most engaged with is the ASIST program and safeTALK program.
ASIST
The ASIST workshop is for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million caregivers have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop. Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid.
safeTALK
safeTALK, about three hours in duration, is a training that prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety. As a safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, you will be better able to:
- move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide;
- identify people who have thoughts of suicide;
- apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person with suicide thoughts to suicide first aid, intervention caregivers.
Powerful video clips illustrate both non-alert and alert responses. Discussion and practice help stimulate learning. Learn steps that contribute to saving lives.
suicideTALK
suicideTALK is a 60- to 90-minute exploration in suicide awareness. It is intended for all members of a community ages 15 and up. Organized around the question, “Should we talk about suicide?” it provides a structure in which session members can safely explore some of the most challenging attitudinal issues about suicide, and encourages every member to find a part that they can play in preventing suicide.
Only those who have received intervention skills training through a program like ASIST or its equivalent should present suicideTALK.
suicideCARE
suicideCare is a one-day, clinically oriented exploration of the challenges presented to and the competencies required of the helper who works with persons at risk of suicide on a longer-term basis. ASIST training is a prerequisite.
Due to the nature of this program, special arrangements need to be made in order for it to fit within each unique community.
Read more about the history and work of Living Works here.