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ASIST Provides Important Skills

  • Published
  • By Emily Farrington-Smith
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Imagine this scenario: You're at the Pope track early one morning to complete your PT requirements. Ahead you see a fellow airman collapse and they've stopped breathing. 

Your first inclination is to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on them until the paramedics arrive in order to just keep them alive. 

This scenario was used as an example at the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training held Jan. 29 and 30 at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center. 

"If someone's body gives out at the track, you won't need a heart surgeon right there. You can provide CPR until long-term treatment is available," Assistant Chaplain (Staff Sgt.) Timothy Tabisz said. "This ASIST workshop is the CPR, so to speak, for suicide. You're there to help your friend until they can get professional help. 

"Unfortunately, suicide is becoming a bigger problem in our society," Sergeant Tabisz said. "Suicide intervention is key to saving our Airmen's lives." 

Sergeant Tabisz was leading the workshop along with Kelly Savage, 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Chaplains Capt. Jason Botts, Capt. John Key, Capt. Andrew Schulze and Capt. Charles Hollstein. They are all certified ASIST trainers using the LivingWorks education system for the prevention of suicide. 

Chaplain Hollstein has been an ASIST trainer since 2006 and the main point of contact for the program since 2007. He has been in charge of getting new teachers trained and coordinating and advertising new classes. 

He feels that programs like this are necessary. "Suicide not only affects the individual, but has a ripple-effect throughout the community which is detrimental to the unit and mission," Chaplain Hollstein said. "This is why it is critical for co-workers, and especially front line supervisors to be able to identify a person at risk and act to help them. 

"ASIST, which is an intense course, has been proven not only to increase understanding about suicide, but also to increase suicide prevention behaviors," he said. 

Training consists of two full-day classes, which includes role-playing and behavioral practices of suicide prevention skills. 

"We cover three broad areas," Chaplain Hollstein said. "Learning to connect with a person at risk for suicide, understanding them, and finally assisting them. You don't have to be a professional health care worker to use these techniques; anyone can learn the model and be a competent caregiver in a situation dealing with a person at risk." 

The goal is to help create safer communities, preparing caregivers of all backgrounds to provide suicide first aid to at-risk persons. Intervention attitudes, knowledge, skills and resources are presented in two-days of practical training. 

The ASIST course trains all graduates of the Airmen Leadership School and holds classes held quarterly, free of charge, at the A&FRC. The next training is schedule for April 23 through 24. 

If you or anyone you know has suicidal tendencies or thoughts, seek help with an individual you feel comfortable with. The Pope Chapel is well equipped to handle anyone with these thoughts. 

Call Chaplain Hollstein at 394-2677 for help, or to register for the next ASIST course.