CGC hosts two-day suicide intervention training

Twenty-three participants completed a training for certification in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training on Oct. 27 and 28 at the Lao Lao Bay Golf and Resort. (Contributed Photo)

This training was held for two days at the Lao Lao Bay Golf and Resort, completing the eleventh ASIST training these past four years in the CNMI and funded this month through the support of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, or SAMHSA.

This event was in efforts and collaborations with community partners toward prevention and awareness of this month’s Behavioral Health Awareness Month, an annual health observance supported by SAMHSA that celebrates the work that community organizations and individuals conduct year-round to prevent substance abuse and promote mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being.The training was held on Oct. 27 and 28. The two trainers—Rebecca Robles, NCD Bureau Administrator, and Jennifer Maratita of Behavioral Health Solutions, an instructor at the Northern Marianas College—are registered trainers through LivingWorks Education. This registered certification of the two CNMI-based trainers was made possible through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Prevention and Training Branch of Guam that was held in 2010 to promote suicide prevention efforts in the Micronesian region.

Twenty-three participants completed this training. To date, there are over 260 interventionists that have been certified though this project’s efforts. Participants included community partners such as the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Community Guidance Center and Transitional Living Center, Public School System, Department of Public Safety, non-profit organizations, and the Northern Marianas College.

To participate in upcoming CGC Prevention supported events, contact Tiara Evangelista at 323-6560/1 or ti.evangelista@gmail.com.

According to LivingWorks Education, the ASIST training is the most widely used, acclaimed and researched suicide intervention skills training in the world. The benefits of the ASIST T4T, is that the community sustains locally trained trainers that can certify additional caregivers on how to respond and help someone with suicidal thoughts or may be at risk of attempting suicide.

The CNMI’s Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Community Guidance Center is currently taking significant steps toward increasing community-based collaboration that will result in more successful suicide prevention activities and early intervention efforts. The Behavioral Health Solutions has current plans that include an additional ASIST certification throughout the year to various agencies and members of the community. Because space is limited, contact LivingworksCNMI@gmail.com for more information. (PR)