Hello
and Welcome
My name is Caitlyn Timmings and I had the
pleasure of being a member of the truly remarkable Grassroots Training team
during the summer of 2011. When I was back to visit this past July, Chris Brown
and Miranda Frost (Co-Directors of Grassroots Training) asked me if I’d be
interested in writing a blog entry for World Suicide Prevention Day. I said I’d
be honoured to and I am. That being said, I’d like to begin with acknowledging
that today is the 10th Annual
World Suicide Prevention Day! While suicide is often thought of as being a
“risk” only known to specific populations, the reality is that suicidal thought
and/or completed suicide affects everyone. Perhaps you have personally
experienced a loss to suicide, or you may know of loved ones who have, or you
may struggle with suicidal thoughts. Perhaps you’re interested in increasing
your awareness around suicide generally. Regardless of what brought you to read
this post today, we receive your attention warmly and hope this post will leave
you with feelings of hope and knowledge that protective factors do exist to mitigate the risks of
suicide no matter how intangible they may sometimes feel.
Background
I came by boat from Canada (okay, by plane,
but “boat” intrigued you right?) to gain exposure to, and experience with, the
health and social care system in the UK. At the time, I was finishing up my
Master’s degree in Public Health and was eager to learn more about the programs
and services available in the UK in the areas of mental health and substance
use. A few weeks after arriving in sunny Brighton, I was contacted by Chris.
She asked if I’d be interested in coming for an interview to which I happily
accepted. The two most memorable things about this interview were that Miranda
and Chris’ passion for suicide prevention and awareness was contagious and that
I immediately wanted to learn more. When I was offered a spot on the team, I
knew I was in for an incredible summer of learning, growing and experiencing.
And I was right.
First
Day at Grassroots Training: Met the Team and Geraldine
Being new to Brighton, the journey to the
Grassroots Training office on the 1A Whitehawk bus was also new. When I
arrived, I was welcomed by warm and smiling faces (the Grassroots Training
team) and a giraffe in the window (Geraldine). I was told about the array of
training courses offered by the organization, including the two-day ASIST
(Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) course, which I would later
attend. The ASIST training curriculum was championed in Canada, which made me
feel proud as a Canadian, but also a little perplexed that I had not heard of
it before now. I started to wonder who else did not know about these valuable
resources that are available to professionals and community members alike and
glad that there were organizations right there in the community, like
Grassroots Training, to deliver them.
ASIST
Training
The two-day comprehensive ASIST training
course was of particular significance during my internship with Grassroots Training.
The experience is hard to put into words, but surmise it to say that you begin
training as a bunch of strangers who want to learn more about suicide
prevention and intervention and leave feeling like a connected group who can
make a difference. To learn more about the ASIST training course or other
trainings offered by Grassroots Training, click here: http://www.grassrootstraining.org.uk/grassroots_training_suicide_prevention_courses.asp
Protective
Factors
When I think about protective factors, I
think about the power that lies in being loved, being supported and feeling
that you are worthy to receive both. Research argues that the fact that
completed suicide is a relatively rare event, a range of protective factors
must act to mitigate the effects of exposure to risk factors.
As was so eloquently conveyed by the International Association of Suicide
Prevention (2012), protective factors occur at the individual,
interpersonal, communal and systems levels:
“Among the psychological factors, resilience (the
ability to cope with adverse life events and adjust to them), a sense of
personal self-worth and self-confidence, effective coping and problem-solving
skills, and adaptive help-seeking behaviour are often considered to be
protective against the development of suicidal behaviours. Social and cultural
factors such as religious and social integration, social connectedness and
maintenance of good relationships with friends, colleagues and neighbours,
access to support from relevant others and ready access to health care are
associated with a reduced risk of suicide and reduced repetition of attempted
suicide. In addition, a healthy lifestyle, with maintenance of good diet and
sleep habits, regular physical activity, abstinence from smoking and illicit
drug use, is also associated with a reduced risk of suicidal behaviour.”
In addition to what the research shows, protective
factors can be very individualized. When I think about this, I am struck by how
well this personal conception of resiliency is portrayed in the 2011 video
developed by Grassroots Training called I am Alive. To view this video,
click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ELRY_4yYimk
And
the Now
It’s really hard to summarize my incredible
experience at Grassroots Training in a single blog post. But I can say that I
now notice ASIST certification stickers, the language used around suicide, the
stigma that still exists and the resources that are so valuable in continuing
to raise awareness around this very important issue. It makes me proud to have
been a part of an organization that I know is so dedicated to making Brighton a
suicide safer community and a leader in making suicide prevention a priority on
the health and social care agenda. So on this day of World Suicide Prevention,
I’d like to applaud you, Grassroots Training, for all of your past, present and
future efforts!
