Health Courses & Trainings
Eastern Montana Area Health Education Center (Eastern MT AHEC) at RiverStone Health is a part of an innovative statewide network of centers created to recruit, train, and retain healthcare professionals. AHEC also provides opportunities for healthcare workers to take trainings and courses.
- A scientifically proven intervention model
- Powerful audiovisual learning aids
- Group discussions
- Skills practice and development
- A balance of challenge and safety
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a 2-day in-person interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.
Studies show that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings in those at risk and is a cost-effective way to help address the problem of suicide.
Learning goals and objectives
Over the course of their two-day workshop, ASIST participants learn to:
- Understand the ways that personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions
- Provide guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk in ways that meet their individual safety needs
- Identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it
- Appreciate the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community at large
- Recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care
Workshop features:
- A scientifically proven intervention model
- Powerful audiovisual learning aids
- Group discussions
- Skills practice and development
- A balance of challenge and safety
ASIST helps to build regional networks of trained caregivers who can support each and use common terminology to approach suicide and safety
For more information, contact: Eastern MT AHEC at RiverStone Health, 406.247.3285 or ahec@riverstonehealth.org
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an 8-hour in-person training appropriate for anyone who wants to learn how about mental illnesses and addictions, including risk factors and warning signs. This training teaches participants a 5-step action plan to help a person in crisis connect with a professional, peer, social and self-help care.
The training can help those who regularly engage with individuals who may experience mental health challenges and is most appropriate for audiences with no prior training or experience with mental health or substance use. Using scenarios and role playing, participants are given the opportunity to practice their new skills and gain confidence in helping others who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge, or those in distress.
For more information, contact: Eastern MT AHEC at RiverStone Health, 406.247.3285 or ahec@riverstonehealth.org
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an 8-hour in-person training designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
For more information, contact: Eastern MT AHEC at RiverStone Health, 406.247.3285 or ahec@riverstonehealth.org
Management of Aggressive Behaviors (MOAB®) is an in-person training with a variety of options, including a 4-hour, 8-hour, or 2-day course option. MOAB® presents principles, techniques, and skills for recognizing, reducing, and managing violent and aggressive behavior. The program also provides humane and compassionate methods of dealing with aggressive people. MOAB® techniques provide research based nonverbal, verbal and physical skills as well as personal defense and safety skills. MOAB® goes beyond the strategies for preventing and diffusing a crisis. It addresses the multitude of crises and stages of conflict to help calm people, diffuse anxious or aggressive behavior, avoid violence and injuries, and create confidence and the ability to improve any situation and minimize or eliminate lawsuits.
For more information, contact: Eastern MT AHEC at RiverStone Health, 406.247.3285 or ahec@riverstonehealth.org