Author: Bhavana Dahiya

Posted February 19th, 2025

Written by: Jeffrey Liu

This story contains explicit mentions of suicidality and the impacts of suicide. 

Angela Kyle is an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) instructor with the Crisis Centre of BC. Since joining the organization in 2017, Angela has led upwards of one hundred ASIST training sessions, providing thousands of individuals with the invaluable ability to preserve lives in their communities. Her dedication to her role as a trainer is a result of her commitment to benevolence; her kindness is obvious through her interest in others and willingness to lend an ear, however and whenever.

Beneath her happy-go-lucky façade is an extraordinary story of strength, one that the Crisis Centre of BC has had the privilege of contributing to. She champions a forthright approach to handling instances of suicidality, encouraging us to address any suspicions of suicidal intentions in others without hesitance. By asking others about their emotions, we can demonstrate a willingness to help make sense of them.

Understand her philosophy and meet this plainclothes hero as we explore her connections to herself, her community, and the Centre.

 

What is ASIST?

ASIST is a two-day suicide intervention workshop. It covers topics such as – how do you know if someone’s thinking about suicide? How do you ask them if they’re thinking about it? What do I do if they say yes? How do I help them find a way to care for themselves?

Standard protocol regarding suicidality is to call the police and have them taken to a hospital to be seen by a doctor. However, the hospital is not equipped to handle cases of suicidality. They may perform a risk assessment, but even if someone states, ‘I’m going to end my life if you let me leave’, there’s not always a spot for them in the hospital. So they are often sent away, still feeling suicidal. Eventually, emergency services will be involved again. They will be taken to the hospital where they will not receive any further help; the cycle continues. ASIST presents an alternative, by means of empathetic conversation. What got you to thinking about suicide? And to listen, not problem solve, just hear their story. Many people don’t get the opportunity to be heard, but once they have it they feel this great relief.

Once they feel that relief, we ask what is it that you’re thinking about now? And they naturally begin to find their own reasons for wanting to live. From there, we discuss how to build a safe plan with them. In case those thoughts do return, we establish options to navigate them.  The goal of an intervention is not to prevent all suicidal thoughts. It’s that if they do happen again, they’re going to come back for another intervention. They lived through it this time, so if the thoughts return, they’ll come back again for another one.

How did you initially get involved with the ASIST program?

I’m from Ontario and I started with the crisis centre in Niagara where they taught ASIST to all their volunteers. At the time, my partner struggled with her mental health and needed interventions so I stepped in and conducted quite a few with her. She continued to struggle with suicidal thoughts off and on over the span of four years. Some of our friends enrolled in ASIST training so that they could offer her support of their own. Unfortunately, she did end up taking her life, which was devastating.

But I believe if we didn’t have so many people around us that knew how to have a conversation with her about it, we would have lost her that first year. We got four extra years with her because we were able to use ASIST techniques with her.

After she passed, some of our friends believed she was selfish for acting on her emotions and frustrated for the trouble she caused. Of those friends, some began to find themselves contradicting their thoughts and having their own considerations of suicide. For me, this highlighted the fact that every time we did an intervention, we prevented the people close to us from having a reason to think about suicide. Interventions don’t just protect the individual. When you keep one person alive, you are also protecting the people and communities around them.

What drives you to continue working with the Crisis Centre of BC?

Hearing people come back and say, “Wow, I used this the very next day.” Validation that suicide happens and it’s best to be prepared for when it does.

People walk out and they say, “Thank you. I thought this was going to be the worst two days of my life and you made it fun.” I feel good leaving knowing that nobody’s walking out drained, exhausted, or bitter about attending. Instead, they find enjoyment in the process; when it’s over they’re talking to their friends, families, and colleagues spreading their enthusiasm about getting involved.

It’s not burdensome work, especially when you take good care of yourself. At the end of each day, we tell trainees their only homework is to set aside at least 10 minutes for self-care; to do something for yourself, something that just makes you feel good. This is also a chance to remind myself that prioritizing yourself is necessary to be an attentive and intentional caregiver.

What takeaway do you want everyone to absorb regarding suicide prevention?

Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’re thinking about suicide. If you ever have any suspicion, any tinge in the back of your mind suggesting someone is having thoughts of suicide – even if for two seconds – you’re picking up on something. Ask the question. Even if the person says no, you’ve planted a seed. By addressing it, you’ve indicated that you are open to talking about it. You’ve let them know that if they ever find themselves thinking about suicide, they can come to you. Ask the question. Plant the seed.

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Crisis lines are available across British Columbia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know needs help, please call:

• 9-8-8 (call or text)
• 310-6789 (no area code needed)
• 1-800-SUICIDE / 1-800-784-2433
• 604-872-3311

 

If you are interested in learning suicide prevention skills, you can:

Learn more about ASIST training

See all our trainings

Talking about suicide can be incredibly difficult, but it’s one of the most important conversations we can have. The words we use matter: choosing the right language can help someone feel understood and supported, and is the first step in creating suicide-safer communities.

Many people may struggle with how to approach the topic, unsure of what to say or how to provide support without causing harm. Recognizing the right words not only helps reduce the stigma surrounding suicide but also shows people that their feelings are valid and worthy of support.

We’ve created a downloadable, free, easy-to-use Suicide-Safe Language Poster to guide you in talking about suicide with compassion and care. This resource is designed to help you know exactly what to say and what to avoid, whether you’re talking to a loved one, a friend, or someone you’re supporting in a professional capacity.

Why this Matters:

The language we use when discussing suicide can have a huge impact. According to research, talking to people about suicide in the context of care, respect, and prevention, does not increase their risk of suicidal ideation or suicidal behaviours and may in fact lower it. Research indicates that talking openly and responsibly about suicide lets someone know they do not have to be alone, that there are people who want to listen and who want to help. When we use the right language, we can help someone feel supported, connected, and show them that they are safe and will not be judged or stigmatized for sharing their feelings. 

What’s on the Poster:

• Practical tips on what to say and what to avoid are examples of supportive language that open up conversations and make people feel heard.
• Simple, clear guidance anyone can follow, whether you’re a mental health professional, a family member, or a friend.

Download the Poster Now:

Suicide Language Poster (11 x 17″)

Suicide Language Poster (11 x 17″) (version 2)

Suicide Language Poster (8.5 x 11″)

Suicide Language Poster (8.5x 11″) (version 2)

We encourage you to share this resource with your community to help spread understanding, compassion, and hope. Together, we can reduce the stigma around suicide and create a safer environment for everyone.

Posted January 20th, 2025

Written by: Susan Angel

Educating youth in mental health helps them to become miniature educators themselves, Paul Vincent observes.

With a voice that resonates warmth and eyes that twinkle with energy, 55-year-old Paul embodies the spirit of a lifelong volunteer, seamlessly blending service into the rhythm of his life. As a kid, he performed puppet shows in a hospital when his close friend was being treated for cancer and has also volunteered in a women’s centre. He has been with the Crisis Centre since September 2023, and to date has conducted about twenty-five workshops in schools, about two to three times per month.

What initially drew you to volunteer with the Crisis Centre of BC, specifically as a Youth Educator?

I was involved in the Jeep community for over ten years, raising money for breast cancer research, including emceeing events, selling merchandise, and spreading good cheer overall. But I wanted to volunteer in a more personal and direct way. Having suffered from depression when I was young and having attempted suicide at age 29, I now understand that if I had had help during this period, my younger adult life would have been far less difficult. Searching online, I discovered that the Crisis Centre was looking for volunteers for adult and youth programs. I have a young heart and naturally resonate with young people, so I intuitively knew that the youth position would be perfect for me. A lot of emotional damage can occur before a youth reaches adulthood. The sooner we reach them, the more we can impact their emotional wellbeing.

How do you balance your volunteer activities with your day job?

I have a great job working the night shift in a transportation company yard and have a second part time job. I’m also a podcaster working with a close-knit team, and this too takes up a lot of my time. It was initially difficult to find a comfortable schedule, but Lana, our education coordinator, was highly accommodating and arranged my shifts for Mondays, when I have had a good night’s rest.

Have you been on the Crisis Centre phone lines yourself?

I would really like to do that, but unfortunately, I was unable to make it work with my work schedule. I did take the SafeTALK course, from which I learned how to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to support to help keep them safe. This course was necessary and has helped me in many ways.

What does a typical day look like for you as a youth educator and what are some of the key topics you cover?

We conduct workshops for classes of eighteen to thirty students and we are constrained to 40-to-90-minute blocks. Our coordinator arranges school timeslots, and we see one class at a time.

Self-Care for Mental Health is the workshop we offer for grades 6 through 12 students. The objective is to inform students that everyone experiences varying degrees of mental health issues, and that there is no shame in this. We do not yet discuss suicide in this workshop, and we keep the activities interactive to keep the students engaged. For example, the “weighed down” activity is effective for showing that worries can weigh us down, like a bag of heavy rocks. The physical weights are a metaphor for the emotional weights we carry, which may involve school, family, social life, sexuality, or even financial issues. The students are keen and smart, and themselves offer solutions, such as confiding in a friend or getting professional help. We are always mindful of our goal, which is to create an awareness of mental health, to remember that we all deal with it to varying degrees, and that we can adopt self-care habits to maintain our mental health.

It’s Okay Not To Be OK is the workshop we offer for grades 9 through 12. The objectives are to learn what a mental health crisis is, how to identify one in another person, and how to support that person, should the need arise. We discuss self- stigma, and how we can often be our own worst enemies. One of the most important pieces of information we deliver in our workshops is the existence of the 9-8-8 help line. It is Canada-wide and can connect the caller with immediate mental health services, in much the way that 911 operates.

How do you create a safe and open environment for youth?

Young people know genuine. They are looking for tools. As educators, we begin each workshop by sharing a story from our past when we have felt emotionally vulnerable. Students naturally trust us knowing that we are volunteers, and they sense that we speak from the heart. They know that we give these workshops because we want to, not because we have to, and this impacts them.

How can we empower young people to seek help and support when they need it?

I think, normalizing the existence of mental health issues, and getting rid of the stigma that comes with them is the number one thing.

Can you describe a moment when you realized the impact your work was having?

We don’t always see a visible impact at our workshops because our time with the students is brief. At one school, we were presented with a card the teens created and all signed, which felt great. What is most satisfying, though, is to know that when the students walk out of a workshop, we have turned each one into a miniature educator. They will have learned what a crisis is, how to recognize a crisis, how not to brush it off, and how to find help. This makes me feel that I have accomplished something important. This work has also impacted my personal life by giving me the ability to support others. Knowing about my involvement in this program, acquaintances have often sought my help, and I’ve been more than happy to give it. I’ve spent hours talking with them and have encouraged them to visit a counsellor for emotional support or treatment when necessary. All of this stems from having taken the SafeTALK course and becoming an educator.

What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering with the Crisis Centre?

I hope that people want to jump in and volunteer. It’s one of the most rewarding things you can ever do. It’s a tough time to be alive, but it doesn’t take much to be kind. Even the smallest thing can help somebody, and it’s ok not to be ok. Working on the crisis line is not for everyone. It depends on good mental health and state of mind. To help others, we must know how to help ourselves.

Paul reminds us that while helping others can be deeply rewarding, it requires compassion, awareness, and the ability to care for oneself. For those ready to take that step, it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, one small act of care at a time.

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Learn more about:

Training programs for youth

Becoming a Youth Educator Volunteer

Becoming a Crisis Services Volunteer

Vancouver, BC — January 08, 2025 – Voluntary, community-based supports are the only way to ensure proposed involuntary care measures have a chance to succeed.

Stacy Ashton, Executive Director of the Crisis Centre of BC, emphasized the importance of a full spectrum of crisis support:

“It’s common sense to roll out voluntary supports alongside involuntary measures, or you’ll fill 20 beds up on day one and have made no real difference.”

The Crisis Centre of BC, along with nine other crisis centres across the Province, answers the 310-6789 mental health crisis line and 1800SUICIDE line. “We are already part way to on-demand community-based crisis support. The Province has invested in crisis lines and our call answer rate has increased by 46% as a result. Crisis mobile response teams featuring mental health and peer support are available in 33 communities. These measures work, but are not yet funded to answer every single call or able to send teams to support folks 24/7. The cost of community-based support is tiny compared to the cost of building institutions, but one cannot succeed without the other.”

The announcement of two secure involuntary care sites set to open in Surrey and Maple Ridge is meant to provide care for the small subset of people needing urgent mental health and addiction care. “We hear from folks before involuntary care, during involuntary care, and after involuntary care – we hear everything on the lines. Involuntary care is preventable with community-based supports, and community-based supports are what people need to be successful upon release. Quite simply, we cannot afford to keep people in involuntary care forever, so we have to ensure people have supports on the outside as well.”

Media Contact
Stacy Ashton
Executive Director, Crisis Centre of BC
sashton@crisiscentre.bc.ca