Skills to help people avoid suicide

Peninsula community members will have the opportunity to learn skills to help people avoid suicide.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training from LivingWorks aims to enhance a caregiver's abilities to help a person avoid suicide.

Coast Community Connections will run workshop on the topic at the Peninsula Community Centre on February 20 and 21.

The two-day program has been sponsored by the Gosford North Rotary Club.

"Participants learn to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and respond in ways that help increase their immediate safety and link them to help," said Peninsula Community Centre community development officer Ms Louise Manson.

Ms Manson said the technique had been used in a range of settings with trainees from a variety of backgrounds and countries.

"It has been implemented in secondary and post-secondary schools, mental health centres, hospitals, social services, public safety agencies and numerous other community settings," she said.

"Extensive evaluation of outcomes has shown that participants demonstrate increased intervention skills and that the training has led to positive changes in both knowledge and attitudes about suicide.

"It is based on the principles of adult learning.

"It values the experiences and contributions that participants bring and encourages people to share actively in the learning process," she said.

The skills training program will be conducted at the Peninsula Community Centre at 93 McMasters Rd, Woy Woy on February 20 and 21.

The program will run from 8:45am to 4:30pm on both days.

Reserve a place by calling the Peninsula Community Centre on 4341 9333.

Media release, 19 Jan 2017

Louise Manson, Coast Community Connections