LivingWorks

What LivingWorks does

LivingWorks is a privately held, for-profit mission-driven company founded in 1983 in Calgary, Canada, that provides evidence-based suicide prevention skills training to individuals, workplaces, governments, and communities. Its core curriculum is an Integrated Training System of four programs—LivingWorks ASIST (the two-day flagship suicide first-aid workshop), LivingWorks safeTALK (a shorter intervention-linkage program developed with the Australian Defence Force in 2007 and now training 1M+ people globally), LivingWorks Start (an online entry-level e-learning course), and LivingWorks Faith—delivered through a global network of 8,000+ certified trainers operating across 30+ countries. Culturally adapted sub-products (I-ASIST and safeYARN) extend the curriculum to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.

Name

LivingWorks

Legal name

LivingWorks Education Inc.

Website

https://livingworks.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LivingWorks is a privately held, Calgary-based suicide prevention training company founded in 1983 that delivers ASIST, safeTALK, and Start programs through 8,000+ certified trainers to workplaces, governments, schools, and communities across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Suicide prevention training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mindfulness-Based Coaching & Training (MBSR/MBCT-style) (HSADAJAB), Trauma-Informed Mindfulness & Somatic Mind-Body Practices (HSADAJAI)

Keywords

• Suicide prevention training
• Mental health education
• Workplace wellness programs
• Suicide intervention workshops
• Crisis response training

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Program Fees: LivingWorks generates revenue through fees for its training programs including LivingWorks ASIST, safeTALK, and Start. Programs are delivered through certified trainers with fees varying by program type and delivery format (in-person vs online). Bulk license purchases are available with 1-year expiration for distribution.
2. Trainer Certification and Materials: Trainers pay for certification programs (Training for Trainers) and order materials through LivingWorks' eCommerce system via the trainer portal. Trainer reactivation and certificate replacement services are also available.
3. LivingWorks Connect Platform Access: The LivingWorks Connect digital platform supports training delivery including pre-course, in-course, and post-course surveys, digital workbooks, and training registration. Access is provided as part of the training ecosystem.
4. Government and Organizational Contracts: Large-scale contracts with government agencies such as the NSW Ministry of Health and Suicide Prevention Center of New York deliver free training to specific populations, representing significant revenue partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LivingWorks provides evidence-based suicide prevention skills training through an integrated system of programs (LivingWorks Start, safeTALK, ASIST, and Faith) delivered by a global network of certified trainers and supported by the LivingWorks Connect digital platform and mobile app. The company also certifies and supports trainers worldwide and secures large-scale government and organizational contracts to deliver training to targeted populations.

Product overview

LivingWorks offers an integrated training system with four core training programs—LivingWorks Start (online entry-level), LivingWorks safeTALK (linkage skills), LivingWorks ASIST (suicide first-aid), and LivingWorks Faith (faith-based)—all powered by the LivingWorks Connect digital platform. The integrated approach allows programs to work together as a unified system, creating a Network of Safety where trained Helpers are connected to each other and to ongoing support. Supporting sub-products include culturally adapted programs (LivingWorks i-ASIST and LivingWorks safeYARN for Indigenous Australian communities) and platform features (CareGuide for intervention guidance, Find Training for location-based discovery, and Trainer Portal for certification management).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LivingWorks Connect: Digital platform and mobile app that engages and empowers learners, trainers, and organizations to impact communities by helping make them safer from suicide.
• LivingWorks ASIST
• LivingWorks safeTALK
• LivingWorks Start
• LivingWorks Faith

Products and services

• LivingWorks ASIST A two-day suicide first-aid training workshop that develops Suicide First-Aid Helpers who can support someone to keep them safe-for-now. It is LivingWorks' flagship workshop training program and the foundational program since 1983, designed for individuals, workplaces, and community helpers.
• LivingWorks safeTALK Training program that builds Suicide Safety Connectors who can recognize invitations to help and engage with someone having thoughts of suicide, then link them to further support. Has globally trained more than 1 million Helpers.
• LivingWorks Start Online suicide prevention training program that creates Suicide Alert Helpers who can notice signs of suicide and start a conversation. Access expires 60 days after enrollment; designed as an accessible entry point for beginners.
• LivingWorks Faith Culturally adapted suicide prevention training program designed for faith leaders and faith-based communities to help build suicide-safer environments within religious settings.
• LivingWorks Connect Digital platform and mobile app (iOS/Android) that engages and empowers learners, trainers, and organizations. It powers the Integrated Training System with features including Communities, Resources, Connections, CareGuide, Find Training, Trainer Portal, E-Learning, Training Registration, and Organization Portal.
• LivingWorks I-ASIST Culturally grounded adaptation of LivingWorks ASIST specifically developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia, co-developed in partnership with Professor Maree Toombs.
• LivingWorks safeYARN Culturally grounded adaptation of LivingWorks safeTALK specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia, developed alongside I-ASIST.
• Training for Trainers (T4T) Certification Certification program through which trainers are authorized to deliver LivingWorks ASIST, safeTALK, and other programs independently. Trainers must re-certify periodically and gain access to the Trainer Portal, materials ordering, and program center management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% of trained Helpers used their suicide prevention skills within three months of training
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• OrygenmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2022Conducted independent external evaluation of NSW Ministry of Health partnership with LivingWorks. The evaluation was one of the largest suicide prevention training evaluations in Australia.
• NSW Ministry of HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Historic partnership between February 2022 and June 2024 delivering free suicide prevention training across New South Wales. One of the largest funded training initiatives ever delivered - 1,033 in-person workshops, 30,000 people trained, with independent evaluation by Orygen showing 64% of Helpers used skills within 3 months.
• Professor Maree ToombscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-created culturally grounded adaptations of LivingWorks ASIST and safeTALK for Indigenous communities. LivingWorks I-ASIST and safeYARN developed over six years in consultation with 90+ Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association (NLCSA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Launched 'Got Your Back' pilot program in 2024 grounded in LivingWorks safeTALK and ASIST training. Program gaining attention across Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations for potential national framework.
• Hurlburt Field (US Air Force)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Air Force Special Operations base partnered with LivingWorks for suicide prevention training. Dexter Mitchell has delivered 100+ workshops and trained 2,000+ Helpers since becoming a LivingWorks Trainer in 2014.
• MATES in ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Charity established by the construction industry in 2008 integrating LivingWorks ASIST and safeTALK into its comprehensive suicide prevention model. Has since expanded to mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors, and into New Zealand and beyond.
• Australian Defence Force (ADF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Partnership with Australian Defence Force led to the development of LivingWorks safeTALK in 2007. ADF requested a program to help build suicide safety throughout military ranks, which grew into a globally recognized program training over 1 million Helpers.
• Suicide Prevention Center of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Operating within New York State Office of Mental Health, the Center works with LivingWorks since early 2000s to expand suicide prevention across the state. New York ranked first overall for mental health in 2025 Mental Health America report.
• Suicide Prevention ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000National collective working to make Scotland suicide-safer through LivingWorks training under 10-year strategy 'Creating Hope Together.' 32 suicide prevention leads stationed across Scotland. Haylis Smith, National Delivery Lead, is Scotland's longest-serving LivingWorks Trainer.
• Lifeline AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 1996Partnership began in 1996 when LivingWorks ASIST Training for Trainers (T4T) was first delivered in Bundaberg, Australia. LivingWorks ASIST became mandatory training for all Lifeline operators. The partnership expanded suicide prevention skills across Australia with 60,000+ people trained in first 15 years alone.
• Community Crisis ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Crisis response organization where LivingWorks ASIST training is a cornerstone of professional development. All staff must complete training within first six months and re-certify every three years. CEO Tim Jansen has 30 years of crisis response experience.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Headspace: Headspace is a broad mental health platform offering mindfulness, meditation, and behavioral health resources including some workplace mental health training. While not a direct training competitor, Headspace competes for employer mental health budgets alongside LivingWorks.
• Calm: Calm is a broad consumer and enterprise mental wellness platform offering mindfulness and stress management content. While not focused on suicide prevention specifically, Calm competes in the adjacent workplace mental health and wellness category and represents a benchmark for digital mental health platforms.

Emerging players

• Kognito: Kognito is an emerging digital simulation-based training provider for mental health and suicide prevention conversations. While more technology-led than LivingWorks' workshop model, Kognito represents the digital alternative that could erode demand for traditional in-person gatekeeper training.
• Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line is a technology-enabled crisis intervention service that trains volunteers to respond to text-based crisis messages. While not a direct training competitor, it represents the evolving digital delivery model for crisis intervention that could complement or compete with LivingWorks' workshop-based approach.

Regional players

• Lifeline (Australia): Lifeline Australia is both a key LivingWorks partner (since 1996) and an adjacent crisis service provider offering 24/7 helpline support. While primarily a crisis service rather than training provider, Lifeline represents the broader ecosystem of suicide prevention services in Australia that intersect with LivingWorks' offerings.

Direct peers

• The Jason Foundation: The Jason Foundation provides suicide prevention training and educational programs focused on youth and young adults, primarily through schools and community organizations. It competes with LivingWorks in the education/youth segment for similar student and teacher training contracts.
• Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program: Yellow Ribbon is a community-based suicide prevention training and awareness organization with similar gatekeeper training programs. It operates in schools and communities and competes for the same youth and education market segments that LivingWorks addresses with its ASIST and safeTALK programs.
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Mental Health First Aid is a comparable skills-based training program that teaches people how to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, including suicide risk. MHFA competes directly with LivingWorks in workplaces, schools, and community settings for similar government and institutional contracts.
• QPR Institute: QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Institute is the most direct competitor to LivingWorks, offering gatekeeper suicide prevention training programs to workplaces, communities, and educational institutions. Both organizations compete for the same government contracts and organizational customers seeking evidence-based suicide prevention training.

Others

• MATES in Construction: MATES in Construction is a charity integrating LivingWorks ASIST and safeTALK into construction industry safety programs. As a major channel partner and LivingWorks' largest construction-sector deployment, it represents both a critical distribution relationship and a potential long-term competitive risk if it developed in-house training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LivingWorksEducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/livingworkseducation
• Instagraminstagram.com/livingworksglobal
• Xx.com/living_works

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LivingWorks