Staff trained in suicide prevention

In an effort to make Sisters a "suicide-safer" community, a number of staff members from the school district took part in an "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training" (ASIST) March 10-11 at the Sisters School District office.

Education and health professionals from Bend, Madras, and Redmond also took part.

Statistics show that 32,657 Americans died of suicide in 2008, and it is estimated that for every reported suicide there are five percent to 25 percent more deaths by suicide that are not reported. At any given time, it is estimated that one in 20 Americans is thinking about suicide.

The aim of the training is to increase the number of people who can recognize warning signs of suicide and do what the ASIST trainers term "first-aid" for preventing suicide.

"Nearly all school personnel are required to have medical first aid training so that they can be first responders in an emergency," said Gary Lasater, one of the two trainers for the workshop. "We need to increase the number of people who help prevent suicide."

His training partner, Mark McKinney agrees and thinks school teachers, counselors, nurses and other school personnel are a perfect target audience.

"Schools are a common access point for youth in the community, so it is a natural training ground for this material," he said.

Participants heard clearly that one of the unfortunate myths about suicide is that talking about it makes it more likely to happen.

"It is an uncomfortable subject, but talking about it actually helps prevent suicide from taking place," said Lasater.

The ASIST model of intervention is a very straightforward and natural interaction in its essence of addressing the needs of a person at risk. Participants learned the model and then practiced using role-playing with other group members. The group role-played everything from someone standing on the edge of a bridge to a sixth grader having trouble at home and considering running away.

"Truly, anyone could do an ASIST intervention," said Lasater. "It is not therapy; it is helping get someone to move toward a safety plan that may include expert help."

Heather Johnson, who teaches health at Sisters High School, covers suicide in her classes and believes that the workshop will help her be a more effective teacher. Additionally, she sees how it will help her understand her role when she encounters a potentially depressed or suicidal student.

"It's hard sometimes to know your role in those type of situations, but this training helped me see how I can intervene in a way that a student can get moved toward whatever sort of help they might need," she said.

School staff members expressed a desire to spread the word on suicide prevention to their colleagues as well as to the rest of the community.

"It is not just a school issue, but we are a central part of the community," said Cindy Holler, Sisters High School counselor. "This training has added some more tools for us to use in our work with young people and their families."

Sisters School District participants included Sally Benton, Debbie Willitts, Trish Roy, Shawn Diez, Charlie Kanzig, Cindy Holler, Margaret Bates, Marti Dale and Heather Johnson.