You can be the
connection that keeps
someone safe.

Most people who die by suicide are not connected to the healthcare system at the time they are struggling. Instead, they are at home, at work, in school or in their communities. That’s why suicide prevention requires a whole-of-community approach, where everyday people are equipped to notice when someone is struggling and safely take action. 

Each year, more than 700,000 people die by suicide. Evidence shows that the people most likely to notice warning signs are family members, friends, colleagues, teammates and peers – not clinicians. Yet research also consistently shows that many of us do not feel confident or prepared to ask about suicide or connect someone to help. 

For more than 40 years, LivingWorks has focused on closing this gap by giving communities the skills, confidence and shared language they need to take action when it matters most. 

LivingWorks safeTALK is designed for everyone. The “safe” in safeTALK stands for Suicide Alertness For Everyone, and that’s exactly our intention – to empower more people to become Suicide Safety Connectors in their communities. 

Anyone aged 15 or older who wants to help keep the people around them safe from suicide can attend. No prior training or experience is required – just the willingness to learn, listen and take a caring, confident next step toward someone who may be thinking about suicide. 

By attending LivingWorks safeTALK, you become part of a growing, community-based Network of Safety – helping ensure that no one has to face their thoughts or experiences of suicide alone. 

LivingWorks Start and LivingWorks safeTALK both build suicide alertness skills – helping  people recognize when someone may be having thoughts of suicide, ask directly and connect them to safety supports. The key difference lies in the depth, practice and confidence-building each program offers. 

LivingWorks Start is a self-paced online program that introduces the core concepts of suicide alertness. It’s a flexible, accessible way to learn the fundamentals – noticing invitations, asking about suicide clearly and safely and connecting a person to further help.

LivingWorks Start is ideal for those who want to begin developing these skills or who need training that can be completed anytime, anywhere. 

LivingWorks safeTALK takes those foundational skills further and deeper. In this in-person workshop, Learners move beyond awareness into more advanced skills, including: 

• Strengthening their ability to recognize and respond to invitations 

• Learning active listening and understanding skills that support a person’s safety journey 

• Building confidence through guided practice and real-time feedback 

• Addressing common community myths that often get in the way of effective referral 

LivingWorks safeTALK also emphasizes what research tells us – talking openly about suicide does not “put the idea in someone’s head,” and you do not need to be a clinician to ask about suicide or offer help. 

Because it’s delivered face-to-face, LivingWorks safeTALK creates a safe environment to ask questions, clarify concerns, learn from others and practice skills – helping Learners deepen the knowledge and confidence they may have first developed in LivingWorks Start. 

In short: 

• LivingWorks Start is an accessible, online introduction to suicide alertness. 

• Livingworks safeTALK is deeper, more interactive skill development that strengthens confidence and connection through in-person learning. 

LivingWorks safeTALK and LivingWorks ASIST are distinct training programs, but they’re intentionally designed to complement each other as part of the LivingWorks integrated training system. Each program teaches different – but connected – skills that help build a layered, community-wide Network of Safety. 

LivingWorks safeTALK (half-day) strengthens suicide alertness skills and prepares Learners to become Suicide Safety Connectors – people who can notice signs of suicide risk, ask directly about suicide, listen with care and connect the person to further help.

LivingWorks safeTALK deepens awareness, confidence and skills, empowering Learners to bridge someone from “noticing something is wrong” to “getting them to the right support.” This Suicide Safety Connector role is a crucial part of suicide-safer communities. 

LivingWorks ASIST (two days) teaches suicide intervention skills and prepares Learners to become Suicide First-Aid Helpers. Learners learn how to engage directly with a person thinking about suicide, reduce immediate risk and co-create a personalized Safety Plan that promotes hope, safety and connection. 

Because of the depth and practice required, LivingWorks ASIST skills cannot be fully taught within LivingWorks safeTALK’s timeframe. However, many people begin with LivingWorks safeTALK and later progress to LivingWorks ASIST, building on what they’ve learned. 

Through LivingWorks Connect, Learners from both programs become part of a broader, digital Network of Safety – gaining access to reminders, local resources and tools that help them maintain and apply their skills long after the workshop ends. 

When communities or organizations offer both LivingWorks safeTALK and LivingWorks ASIST, they equip more people with complementary skills across the continuum of suicide prevention. Together, these programs create a more connected, responsive and effective Network of Safety – one where more Helpers are ready, willing and able to recognize and respond to suicide risk. 

LivingWorks safeTALK is delivered strictly face-to-face. The nature of the program – developing suicide alertness and connector skills through discussion, real-time feedback and guided practice – requires an in-person learning environment where Learners can build confidence, ask questions and receive support as they strengthen their skills.

LivingWorks safeTALK goes beyond awareness into deeper connection, active listening and responding to someone with thoughts of suicide. These are interpersonal skills that are most effectively learned with others, in real-time, supported by a LivingWorks Trainer. 

If you are looking for an online option, we recommend LivingWorks Start , our self-paced digital program that introduces the foundational steps of suicide alertness and can be completed from anywhere. 

LivingWorks safeTALK workshops are delivered by registered LivingWorks Trainers – skilled facilitators who are specially trained to guide Learners through this important, hands-on learning experience. 

To become a Trainer, individuals must complete a LivingWorks safeTALK Training for Trainers (T4T) program, engage in extensive study of the curriculum and meet ongoing quality-assurance requirements. Trainers maintain their skills and accreditation by regularly delivering workshops and participating in LivingWorks’ continuous improvement processes. 

Across sectors, communities and regions, LivingWorks Trainers bring local expertise, cultural awareness and a commitment to safety and connection. If your organization is seeking a Trainer with specific experience – such as working in education, workplace wellness, first response or community services – we can help identify someone who fits your needs. 

LivingWorks Connect is the digital companion to our integrated training system, designed to strengthen skills, provide immediate resources and build a safer, more connected community long after training ends. After completing the enhanced version of LivingWorks safeTALK, you will be automatically prompted to download, log in and connect to the LivingWorks Connect mobile app. You can download LivingWorks Connect from either the Google Play store or Apple Store. 

LivingWorks safeTALK-trained Helpers play a vital role in suicide prevention, and LivingWorks Connect supports them long after the half-day workshop is complete. LivingWorks safeTALK Helpers use the platform to review elements of their training, building on the Helper’s core Suicide Safety Connector role and receive guidance on how to refresh their confidence, access resources that help them stay prepared to support someone at risk. Through their connections in the training event community, they can also stay connected to their Trainer’s updates and reminders, as well as build connections with other Helpers. 

Each LivingWorks safeTALK Helper who has taken the enhanced program, also receives a LivingWorks Start Learner Pass to use or share with someone they choose – expanding the Network of Safety by empowering someone else to learn basic suicide prevention skills. 

Across all programs, LivingWorks Connect extends learning before, during and after training ends – strengthening the Network of Safety throughout all communities. It’s not just a digital add-on – it’s the infrastructure that helps keep Helpers connected, confident and ready to play their part in building suicide-safer communities.