ASIST

Task 1: explore invitations
Task 2: Ask about suicide
Task 3: Listen for the reasons for Dying and reasons for living.
Task 4:Review Risk
Task 5:Contract a Safeplan
Task 6: Follow up on commitments

To give the individual a sense of acceptance and support and secondly to look for signs of suicidal behaviour.

suicide is a taboo topic, so a suicidal person may be reluctant to use the word suicide because they don't know what the reaction will be.
therefore it is very important to be direct and explicit: it gives the person permission to talk about it and often comes as a huge relief.



SERIOUS TALK ABOUT SUICIDE DOES NOT CREATE OR INCREASE RISK. In fact, it provides an opportunity to reduce it.
Open talk is often a huge relief and a key factor in preventing an imminent event.
Avoidance leaves the person more alone and perhaps too anxious to risk asking someone else for help.

Most suicidal persons are ambivalent about suicide. they usually have reasons for dying (obviously) but they usually always have reasons for living too, although they may no realize them.
But why would they be talking to you if they didn't have reasons for living?
THE DECISION TO TALK OPENLY WITH A CAREGIVER IS A POWERFUL INDICATION OF A DESIRE TO LIVE WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON FULLY RECOGNISES IT.

preventing the risk to life becomes paramount. their are three objectives:
1) develop a mutual understanding for reasons for dying and living
2) show respect for person at risk by your willingness to really listen to them
3)establish a life-side foundation for the rest of the intervention.

The person at risk has thoughts of SUICIDE, is PREPARED, DESPERATE, ALONE, FAMILIAR & VULNERABLE.

A risk alert is created when a person confirms information about each of the six risk factors. which are: thoughts about suicide, planning about suicide, pain, resources, prior suicidal behaviour and mental health.

Contracting safety is the process of NEGOTIATING with a person at risk ways to counteract the risk alerts and keep the person at risk safe.

Persons may not be explicit at all. Suicide is still such a taboo topic. callers may not be sure how you will react. They may not say the word suicide. YOU MAY HAVE TO ASK DIRECTLY.

There are 4 elements that need to be put in place for everyone with thoughts of suicide: 1) A promise to keep safe,
2) Provide continuously available safety contacts. 3) A promise of safe/no use of alcohol. 4) Link to other resources.