CMHAWW offers several suicide awareness and training programs that are open to the general public. These programs are all designed to increase the capacity of participants to understand suicide, become comfortable speaking to someone struggling with suicide and connecting them to available resources.

SafeTALK (Suicide Alertness For Everyone) is a half-day, evidence-based suicide-alertness workshop that prepares anyone 15 years of age and older to become a suicide-alert helper. safeTALK is like suicide first aid. Participants need no previous experience or training in order to become more ready, willing and able to be suicide prevention helpers.

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training): ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. Participants learn to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Suicide can impact anyone at anytime. Not only is this training appropriate for service providers, teachers, youth workers, emergency workers, counsellors, faith leaders, and volunteers, but also supervisors, co-workers, community members, family and friends.  Participants do not need formal training to attend the workshop – ASIST can be learned and used by anyone

The “ASK” Workshop challenges commonly held notions about childrens’ capacity to consider suicide. It facilitates awareness of the signs that a young child may be at risk and what is needed to help. Case studies provide opportunities to apply what is learned. A helper tool teaches how to organize and summarize the available information about a given child. This form can then be used by someone, perhaps the participants themselves, in safety planning. Participants of The “ASK” Workshop are typically helpers who routinely come into contact with children ages 5-14. While not required, prior completion of safeTALK or ASIST is recommended.

For more information and to register, please visit the CMHAWW website.