Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don't need any formal training to attend the workshop. Results demonstrate that ASIST helps participants become more willing, ready, and able to intervene with someone at risk of suicide. ASIST is also proven to reduce suicidality for those at risk. A 2013 study that monitored over 1,500 suicidal callers to crisis lines found that callers who spoke with ASIST-trained counselors were 74% less likely to be suicidal after the call, compared to callers who spoke with counselors trained in methods other than ASIST. Callers were also less overwhelmed, less depressed, and more hopeful after speaking with ASIST-trained counselors.

Speaker Fe Anam Avis is a nationally known figure in suicide prevention work and has trained thousands of people in suicide awareness and intervention skills. He is the creator of Soul Shop™, an international movement which trains clergy, ministry leaders, and community members to care for those impacted by suicidal desperation as a regular aspect of their life together.

The priority population for this training is any interested community members, and the training aims to make a difference at the interpersonal behavior level. However, this program would also have a profound impact on the priority population of people with existing mental health concerns and those with socioeconomic or other underlying conditions that increase the risk of mental and behavioral health concerns). Implementation of the training itself will take place in a local church, but those trained may work in a variety of community settings.

The partners for this training include:

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's Reimaging Health Collaborative has been a partner with public health and other community organizations to promote and host outreach and education around important mental health and substance use topics. In October 2019, they hosted a Community Suicide Awareness Training with speaker Fe Anam Avis to provide attendees with basic conversational skills to help someone considering suicide. 

In November 2019, the Collaborative and the church's worship and music teams hosted a community Service of Hope and Assurance that focused on providing quiet, uplifting accompaniment for those who may have difficulty facing the impending holiday season.

In December 2019, the Collaborative reached out to community groups to begin planning efforts to host a two-day ASIST training in Transylvania County. Transylvania Public Health's Healthy Communities coordinator offered support for the training, including funding through the Healthy Communities program. Planning meetings were set for January 2020, and the training for up to 30 people was scheduled for April 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the training was delayed and will be rescheduled for later in 2021.