Accessible, inclusive, safe training for LGBTQIA+ communities.
We understand LGBTQIA+ communities experience much higher rates of suicide compared to the broader Australian population. Leading a process of consultation and codesign with community, we now have suicide prevention skills training tailored to deliver inclusive content and create safe space for LGBTQIA+ people and communities.
These skills training workshops are delivered by Trainers who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Lean on Me: Exploring Suicide Prevention and Mental Health-Related Peer Support in Melbourne’s LGBTQ Communities Report (2021) highlighted the significantly higher levels of mental ill health in the LGBTQ+ community, along with the mixed experiences amongst LGBTQ+ people in accessing supportive and affirming support from services as part of the reason why peers in the LGBTQIA+ community are often relied on for mental health and crisis support.
LivingWorks used adapted training materials and LGBTQIA+ Trainers from within community to deliver LGTBQIA+ ASIST and safeTALK workshops across the North Western Melbourne PHN region. LivingWorks targeted training opportunities to staff and volunteers at LGBTQIA+ organisations, staff at mainstream organisations that have a focus on supporting LGBTQIA+ populations, and informal and formal LGBTQIA+ leaders.
Following the LGBTQIA+ ASIST training in North Western Melbourne, participant feedback from pre- and post-training was analysed, with key results listed below.
Following the LGBTQIA+ ASIST training, 97% of participants rated the workshop
8 out of 10 or above.
98% of participants rated their likelihood to recommend the workshop to others at 8 or above.
Surveys from the same workshops indicated that prior to doing the training, only 42% of participants agreed they’d do a suicide intervention if someone told them they were thinking of suicide
On completion of the training, 100% of participants indicated they would do a suicide intervention.
LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST have decades of evidence base behind their development and delivery. To support safe learning and spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities, our adapted safeTALK and ASIST workshops are led by Trainers who identify from community, and with course materials and scenarios that reflect participants’ life experiences.
We have two free ASIST workshops coming up in November, fully funded by LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. See links to register below.
Led by an LGBTQIA+ Trainer, LivingWorks safeTALK is a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to recognise if someone is thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help.
Led by an LGBTQIA+ Trainer, LivingWorks ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a 2-day, interactive, skills-based workshop that prepares people to provide suicide first aid and learn how to help someone thinking about suicide to develop a personalised SafePlan.
“I found it really helpful that the role play scenarios were with queer characters because situational things that relate to the queer community aren’t always relevant or hard to find ways to navigate as another queer identifying person.”
“Very disability friendly re: breaks etc. Provided safe space for learning.”
“As an LGBTQIA+ trainer for LivingWorks I am deeply passionate about delivering these culturally safe workshops for our community. It’s often so hard for our community to find genuinely safe spaces for us to learn about how to keep our community safer from suicide and it just works. The community connections that come out of it are so valuable and makes me so proud to see.”
