Reaching Out

Crisis is an opportunity for change. Designed specifically for Aboriginal communities, “Reaching Out: Responding to a Person in Crisis” offers a culturally-sensitive introduction to the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to understand and respond to community members overwhelmed by a personal crisis. The three key goals of the program are:

• to create emotional safety in the face of a very painful issue;
• to provide essential knowledge, strategies and techniques to respond to emotional crisis as a psychological and socio-historic problem;
• to develop a core group of skilled and resilient individuals who can assist individuals in crisis within the community.

The subject of suicide often brings out a lot of powerful emotions and memories. Through the Pain includes talking-circles at the beginning and end of each day and provides the time and support necessary for the spontaneous sharing of personal stories. The opportunity for healing has proven to be as valuable to the participants as the information and skills offered.

• Each participant receives a comprehensive handbook.