Suicide Prevention Training

Suicide prevention training 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 Suicide Prevention 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.

There are many front-line workers who support people with mental health issues that are not empowered with the knowledge and skills to host suicide conversations.

A large percentage of these frontline workers still believe 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.

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, support workers in all services, etc.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participant will be able to:

1. Interpret current suicide statistics in order to identify risk markers for suicide
2. Explore their own thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards suicide
3. Understand the background factors and feelings that can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviours
4. Differentiate between sympathy, empathy and compassion
5. Barriers that prevent people at risk seeking help (Self stigma, societal stigma and structural stigma)
6. Discuss myths versus facts about suicide
7. Identify suicide warning signs in order to identify when to commence a suicide conversation
8. Host a conversation with someone who is having thoughts of suicide or showing signs of suicidal behaviour (assess and respond to the risk of suicide)
9. Respond with empathy and compassion during the suicide conversation
10. Signpost or connect the person for further support or take action to keep the person safe in the immediate future

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.

This Suicide Prevention course is often booked with these half day courses:

• First Aid After Ligature
• Mental Health Awareness Training
• Self Harm Awareness Training
• Self Harm Awareness and Ligature Training
• Self Harm Awareness and Ligature for Young People