Suicide to Hope program offers next step in suicide intervention

A workshop in November will train P.E.I. healthcare providers in a new international program that addresses issues beyond the initial interventions in cases of the threat of suicide.

Suicide to Hope aims to take patients past the first phase of suicide intervention, known as applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST).

"ASIST is like suicide first aid. It meets that initial need for safety for a person that's at risk of ending their life," Pat Doyle, suicide prevention coordinator with the Canadian Mental Health Association, told CBC's Island Morning.

"But what happens once you have someone safe from suicide? You can build on that. That suicide experience can be a catalyst for wanting things to change."

Doyle is one of just 35 people in the world qualified to offer the Suicide to Hope training. She attended a conference in Denver in March for her training.

The first Suicide to Hope workshop is scheduled for Nov. 22 in Charlottetown.

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