The Missouri City Police Department will host a free two-day workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24, to teach residents how to recognize and respond to someone at risk for suicide.

The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course will be held at the department's Emergency Operations Center building, 3849 Cartwright Road. Participants are asked to arrive by 8 a.m. both days and must attend both sessions, according to the city's event calendar.

The workshop is free.

Developed by LivingWorks, the course spans about 15 hours over two days. It teaches attendees to spot warning signs, hold a supportive conversation, help a person build a safety plan and connect them to further care. The city's calendar listing describes the training as giving participants the confidence, knowledge and practical tools to intervene when someone may be at risk. No mental health background is required. Anyone 16 or older can attend.

The course is delivered strictly in person and cannot be completed online, according to LivingWorks. The program has trained more than two million people worldwide and is backed by more than 43 peer-reviewed studies, the organization says.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center calls ASIST the "gold standard" in suicide intervention training. The center lists the standard class size at 15 to 30 participants per session, with two registered trainers leading each group.

The department has not confirmed whether space is limited or whether advance registration is required. Compliance Supervisor Rachel Murray is the department's point of contact for the event. Residents with questions or who need to cancel can reach Murray at 281-403-5879 or [email protected]. Instructors will send updated course information as the training dates approach.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.