Hanscom Chapel offers suicide prevention ASISTance in March

  • Published
  • By Glen Kernusky
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Air Base Group is again offering all those with access to the base the opportunity to attend Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at the Hanscom Chapel, March 9-10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ASIST is a two-day, two-trainer, workshop designed to teach suicide first aid to participants so that they can help a person at risk stay safe and seek further help as needed. The program is designed not just for Air Force personnel, but for all members of the community.

“It’s a broad-based training,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Shawn Taylor. “The key is it puts people at every level of the community, not just chaplains or mental health techs. It gives participants additional skills, increased awareness, and a willingness to help.”

The training consists of large and small group exercises as well as simulated situations and role-playing. Participants learn to use a suicide intervention model to identify people with thoughts of suicide and discuss suicide in a direct manner in order to prevent it. 

“You actually get the skills to do an intervention,” said Taylor. “You learn how to notice the warning signs. There are different things that people do or things that you notice about their lives that give you a sense that they might be at risk for suicide.”

Hanscom AFB has used the program since 2015. The most recent ASIST session was in September.

“We try to do it three or four times a year,” said Taylor. “Anybody with base access can come to this training.”

The training is open to all active and reserve military personnel, government employees, contractors, dependents, and retirees. All are highly encouraged to attend and “add to their toolkit” said the chaplain.

“That’s really what the goal is,” said Taylor. “That we send these people back to their unit or community, and they bring an added level of ability to help us respond to suicide.”

All attendees are encouraged to dress in business casual civilian clothing during the training.

To register for the ASIST session, contact the Hanscom Chapel at 781-225-5501. The chapel is located on Arnold Street.