Guard Members Take Suicide Intervention Skills Training Course - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Guard Members Take Suicide Intervention Skills Training Course

A high number of Guard members are signing up to educate themselves about preventing suicide.

ASIST--or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is a course that's offered quarterly to the North Dakota National Guard.

28 Army and Air North Dakota National Guard members signed up for the two-day ASIST training.

A high number, according to the trainer.

Although there are not always warning signs, suicide prevention coordinators say they train participants on what to look for, especially for people at-risk.

"The individuals who attend this class, that is their goal, when they come in, that they can get the skills that they need to recognize individuals that are at risk, and to help them get through a difficult time in their life, and want to continue on with their life." says Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shelly Sizer, Resiliency and Suicide Prevention Manager.

National Guard members may not see each other as much as active duty troops, but this training can be applied at all times, for all people.

"It clearly isn't just a military problem, so it really takes an entire community to help individuals who are at risk." says Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shelly Sizer.

The 141 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade out of Fargo is holding their own ASIST course in February.

Shelly will offer more training at Camp Grafton in May.

If you know someone who is suicidal, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

That number is 1-800-273-TALK