Flame Think, Inc.

I am an advocate and trainer of Suicide Intervention Skills. I have trained over a thousand individuals in basic intervention skills. Many of my students, using these skills, have saved others who were “at risk” for suicide.

There is a significant difference between Suicide Prevention and Suicide Intervention and it is best understood by comparing it with the following analogy.

(Image as found at www.Carautoreview.com)

Likewise, an employer is responsible for the well being of his/her employees. As such, the employer will check on the welfare of the employees. Time sheets, payment records, counseling records, emergency notification forms, health and welfare inspections, and professional development files are checked. Likewise face-to-face brief counseling may take place. This is done to ensure the employee is progressing along and has no work related or family issues. Along with this, the employer may conduct culture and current issue classes. All of these combined help to create the employer’s suicide awareness and prevention program.

Returning again to the automobile analogy, we pass from preventive maintenance to intervention. For example, despite our best efforts preventive maintenance cannot prevent a crisis on the highway. Should a "blow out" occur, the operator must act to avoid disaster. Corrective steering allows the driver to safely guide the vehicle to the side of the road and avoid deadly consequences. Likewise, the driver sees to the physical well being (first aid) of the passengers. This action is called driver’s basic intervention.

Likewise when we encounter an “at risk” person, we must act. One term for this action is “suicide first aid.” What we say, how we say it, and what we do (body language) is all part of the Basic Suicide Intervention process. Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do.

Basic Suicide Intervention is in and of itself the use of specific verbal and non-verbal communication skills. It does not include physical restraint techniques. I do not train people to rappel off buildings and through windows. I do not train how to body slam individuals, or how to over power some one. I teach suicide first aid. I train individuals to help “at risk” people talk through their issues and to steer them to a point of safety where medical experts can take over.

For more information on Suicide Intervention, or to obtain information on acquiring Suicide Intervention training, go to the Flame Think Main Menu and click on "Contact Us."