Nov. 19-21 could have been a typical drill weekend for Colorado National Guard Soldiers on Buckley Air Force Base, with noncommissioned officers leading formations and officers supervising to ensure work gets done throughout the day.

Instead, this group of volunteers didn’t stand in a formation, no orders were given, and the Soldiers interacted with each other in an open and honest way not typically seen in a military setting. The topic? One that has affected far too many National Guard warriors and families: suicide.

These volunteers did not gather simply to commiserate or to mourn; rather they were united in their desire to do something, and to that end they were attending the premier suicide intervention training offered by the military.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training provides a structured approach to intervention that can be used at any level in the military. The program addresses the problem of suicide in a unique way: by not allowing the difficult topic of taking one’s life to be stigmatized. The program opens with music playing softly in the background and slides on screen displaying facts and statistics about suicide. This frank and open approach normalizes conversations about suicide, which is an ongoing theme throughout the course.

This human problem isn’t just addressed in statistics and Power Point slides, but rather by very personal stories shared by classmates. Everyone in the room, students and instructors alike, has been touched by suicide, as demonstrated by a simple show of hands. Among the students, experiences with suicide ranged from the death of a friend or a battle buddy to losing a family member to suicide. These personal stories, combined with an honest discussion of the issue throughout the CONG and the general public, provided the human connection to a problem that is often difficult to relate to.

ASIST is unique in that it teaches students how to assess risk and intervene at a very practical level. By training NCOs, warrant officers and commanders, this program provides several layers of safety to Soldiers of any rank or duty status. This program is not intended to be a substitute for trained behavioral health professionals or members of the ministry, but rather allows ASIST-trained personnel to help their peers when and where help is needed.

During the class, students were involved in discussions and role plays that simulated crisis scenarios, all under the careful supervision of trained instructors. By talking a suicidal person back from a hypothetical ledge or preventing stress from overwhelming an individual, students gained confidence in their ability to intervene whenever and wherever their help might be needed. This aspect of the training is one way that ASIST expands on the traditional suicide prevention model of “Ask-Care-Escort.” By taking ASIST training, students are immersed in the ACE model in a realistic, skills-based manner.

One of the hallmarks of the ASIST suicide intervention model is the formation of a detailed, non-clinical safety plan. Safety plans are created by a person in crisis with the help of an ASIST-trained individual, and include resources that can be used in the event of a future crisis. These safety plans are much more than a promise to stay alive; they are designed to address the real-world concerns of a person in crisis by involving friends, family, or other supportive people who can assist in preventing suicidal thoughts or actions from recurring.

The skills learned in ASIST training are not simply for crisis intervention, as listening to Soldiers and their families is a leader task that is practiced every day. Being able to listen to a person in crisis prepares ASIST-trained personnel to be better listeners in the high-stress situations that are common throughout the Colorado National Guard.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, don’t hesitate, get help now. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text any message to VETALK at 838255.

If you’d like to know more about ASIST training within the CONG, please contact Chris Neuenfeldt via email.

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