Hosting Suicidal Conversations with Empathetic & Compassionate Responses

Hosting Suicidal Conversations will equip support staff with the skills and confidence to manage a conversation with someone who is having thoughts of suicide or showing signs of suicidal behaviour, in an empathetic and compassionate way. Tidal Training have developed this Hosting Suicidal Conversations with Empathetic & Compassionate Responses course to be delivered to groups of up to 16 people.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone whose role brings them into contact with people who have suicidal thoughts and feelings. A large percentage of frontline workers supporting individuals with mental health issues, are not empowered with the knowledge, skills or confidence to host suicide conversations.  Many front-line workers supporting patients/clients/service users with mental health issues are not empowered with the knowledge, skills or confidence to host suicide conversations.  It is essential that staff have appropriate training in this area.

There is a misconception by many that talking about suicide might ‘give the person ideas’ or ‘tip the person over the edge’. All the research into suicide finds that when people with suicidal thoughts and feelings are given the opportunity to speak about how they are feeling, it “reduces the intensity of holding it all in” Jonny Benjamin 2017.

When caring for others, support workers and carers play an important role in safeguarding individuals in their care and they have a very important role to play.

Ask yourself the following questions?

• Who spends the most time with Patient/Client/Service Users?
• Who completes observations on individuals in your care?
• Who is the first to notice changes in the individual?
• Who is told about social issues?
• Who communicates, engages and offers emotional support on a daily basis?

In a supportive and caring environment, we should always trust our instincts, engage in conversation & REPORT your concerns.  The skills to have empathetic and compassionate suicidal conversation can be learnt and are invaluable.

This course is therefore suitable for those in health care, mental health care, supported living, education and child care, public safety – law enforcement, prison services, approved housing, social services, housing services and support workers in all services.

Read our blogs:

• The Importance of Recognising Suicidal Ideation in Care Settings
• Hosting Supportive Conversations About Suicide

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participant should be able to understand:

1. The History of Suicide and the Appropriateness of Language
2. Myths and Facts
3. Suicidal Ideation
4. Intervention techniques
5. Risk Assessments and Safety Plans
6. Support Services

Methods of Delivery:

Tutor facilitated either onsite face to face or live interactive webinar:

• Socratic learning (conversation-prompting questions)
• Group discussions
• Role play with case studies
• Lecture
• Videos

Maximum Attendees: 16

Certification: A certificate of attendance is issued on completion of the course.