ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two-day training package and is the recognised best practice model in terms of suicide intervention skills training.
ASIST equips participants with the skills to intervene when suicide has been identified as a risk in individuals.

Programme Aim

This programme aims to equip participants with the knowledge, ability and confidence to carry out suicide first aid intervention.

Proposed Outcomes/Benefits

Participants will have the ability and confidence to:

• Recognise the warning signs of suicidal behaviour
• Ask about suicide
• Help the person at risk of suicide contemplate the reasons for living and reasons for dying
• Review the risk of suicide
• Contract a “safe plan” with a person at risk of suicide

How the Lions Clubs can get involved.

1. Contact your local HSE suicide prevention officer (list attached)
2. Actively promote the ASIST Training ie. Local radio & press, join forces with your local Mental Health organisation and maybe have a seminar, this is a good way to recruit participants for training.
3. Get involved in recruiting community volunteers. Especially those dealing with youth, youth clubs and sports coaches to do the training.
4. Financial assistance may be required if a Hotel venue is necessary. This is due to the cutbacks in the HSE. Lions Clubs to negotiate prices with local Hotels as they may get better prices than the HSE staff.
5. If any other information is needed please contact Frances Hannon, Roscommon ASIST trainer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  0868531204, or Pat Connolly.

Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention

HSE, Dublin – Mid Leinster: 

Ms. Josephine Rigney, C/O Old Birr Hospital, Birr, Co. Offaly. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Ms. Imelda Halton, HSE, 3^rd Floor, 52 Broomhill Road Tallaght, Dublin 24. 014632807 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HSE, Dublin – North East:  Caroline Lennon Nally, Resource Officer for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention, Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin 7.  01 8823403 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Garreth Phelan, Resource Officer for Mental Health Promotion/ Suicide Prevention, St. Bridget’s Hospital, Ardee, Co. Louth 041 6856994 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HSE, South:  Sean McCarthy, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, St. Patrick’s Hospital, Johns Hill, Waterford. 051 874013 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brenda Crowley, Mental Health Resource Officer, St. David’s Hostel, Clonakility, Co. Cork 087 2995913 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HSE, West:  Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, 1^st Floor, West City Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway.  091 548360 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Anne Sheridan, Mental Health Promotion/Suicide Resource Officer, Old Church, Drumany, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 074 9178539 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mike Rainsford, Mental Health Promotion/Suicide Resource Officer, JFK House, JFK Parade, Sligo. 071 91 35061 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bernie Carroll, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mulgrave Street, Limerick 061 461454  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it