Review of the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program ...

Population Studied Over 80% direct social or healthcare service providers.
Setting Community
Addit’l
Components?
Method
None
Qualitative Method &Outcomes
No. ASIST
Studied
No. Comp.
Studied
Two methods were used: postal surveys (43 out of 72 returned) and 13 interviews (selected from those
who returned the survey). Questions in both modalities were open-ended. Note: West Dunbartonshire
was part of the larger Griesbach et al. (2008) meta-evaluation, but used a different methodology to
evaluate the program.
General Conclusions
“Participants in the ASIST workshops held a strongly positive view of the training and felt that taking part
was worthwhile and beneficial…rated highly the organization and planning of the workshops…(and) felt
the quality of training they received was high” (p. 93).
“In response to an open ended question about the relevance of ASIST, the majority of respondents (76%)
felt that the workshop was of direct relevance to the activity that they pursue in their job. Other aspects
of relevance were felt to be the knowledge building and confidence building benefits arising from the
workshop” (p. 94).
“ASIST workshop participants worked in a broad range of organizations, generally delivering front line social
care and mental health services in the public and voluntary sectors within West Dunbartonshire” (p. 96).
“The majority had had experience of applying ASIST within 6-9 months of the training, and with positive
outcomes” (p. 97).
From Report Narrative
• When asked “What, if anything, do you feel you got out of the workshop?” 55% said knowledge,
45% said confidence, and 24% said skills (from postal survey). 91% felt they developed new
knowledge as a result of their attendance.
• When asked “Have you had any experience of putting ASIST into practice with individuals at risk?”
42% said yes, 58% said no. Of those who said “no”, 79% said they hadn’t had the opportunity.
The number who used ASIST training increased with time from training.
From Participants
• “It firmed up my knowledge and put it into a structured framework/model which made a lot more
sense” (p. 20).
• “I was unaware that you could actually bring up the subject of suicide with the individual” (p. 20).
Country Design Highest Outcome Published Classification
Scotland Posttest Behavior No 4B
Author Year Title
Todd 2005 An Evaluation of the Use of ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) in Shetland.
16 Review of the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program (ASIST) LivingWorks Education
43/13
N/A