Nurturing Life as It Is

In my many years of nursing, I have taken education days for seminars, workshops and in-services about many areas of health care.

Attending these, sometimes willingly, sometimes not (but don’t tell), they have all been pieces of career development and were often tied to only my current employer.

Some were mandatory, some voluntary.

The workshop I attended this past two days will be useful both

in my career life and in my personal life

in situations that I pray never, ever occur.

However,

I do know that there is potential

as long as people are alive

someone  - a stranger, an acquaintance, a loved one or maybe a close friend -

will wish that they were no longer a part of this earthly community 

will have a plan put in place to relieve whatever emotional turmoil exists within them.

This is suicidal ideation, suicidal thinking.

The word ‘suicide’, not favored by many, is a reality.

World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10.

The practice and information received today begins to develop basic skills enabling assistance every day should they be required.

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst 

into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all 

be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

~ Albert Schweitzer

Established in Calgary, Alberta 

the ASIST program was developed by LivingWorks Education Inc.

Information about the ASIST program (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

can be found at www.livingworks.net

The ASIST program has centers in 

Calgary, Alberta  

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Nunawading, Victoria, Australia

Auckland, New Zealand

University Hospital of Northern Norway