Aariak: Nunavut to offer ASIST training to teachers in all communities

Premier Eva Aariak at the September 2011 launch of the GN’s suicide prevention action plan. On May 7, she announced that the ASIST suicide prevention training program will be offered to teachers in every community in Nunavut over the next two to three years. (FILE PHOTO)

Premier Eva Aariak, who also serves as education minister, said May 7 that the Department of Education will offer ASIST suicide prevention training to teachers in all Nunavut communities over the next two to three years.

“The key to suicide prevention is to have trained caregivers ready, willing and able to get involved with each and every at-risk person,’ Aariak said in a statement in the legislative assembly.

The ASIST or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training program, developed by an organization called Living Works, trains people on how to respond to those who appear to be at immediate risk of suicide.

The training includes advice on how to spot people who may be at risk of making a suicide attempt and how to communicate with them. As of November 2012, about 700 people in Nunavut had been trained through the program.

ASIST training is highly recommended for teachers, youth workers and those are in frequent contact with young people.

Aariak said the training of teachers will be involve Nunavut Arctic College and the Nunavut Teachers Association will provide $150,000 to help pay for it.

“Far too many Nunavummiut have been affected by the devastating consequences of suicide. This pain touches us all. My department has pledged to help in whatever way we can,” Aariak said.

She said Arctic College and the education department will develop a rotating training schedule “so that we offer training in all communities over the next two to three years.”

“Mr. Speaker, the key to suicide prevention is to have trained caregivers ready, willing and able to get involved with each and every at-risk person,” Aariak said.

Aariak ended her statement by encouraging all GN staff and community members throughout Nunavut to take ASIST training.

“It is our collective responsibility to recognize individuals who are at-risk and help prevent the risk of suicidal thoughts turning into suicidal behaviours,” she said.