Understanding Suicide Intervention

Course overview

Teaching the theory and practise of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting, captured in a one-day event accredited by City and Guilds of London. This course gives learners the knowledge and tools to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths and some basic skills can help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe from their thoughts and stay alive.

Course content

4 parts, each 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches and practices the skills and knowledge needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and competently intervene to help create suicide- safety as a first aid approach.

Part 1

• Introduction to the day - ourselves and suicide prevention
• Stigma, survivors of bereavement by suicide and the hidden toll
• Suicide thoughts and suicide behaviour
• Intention of behaviour versus outcome of behaviour
• Possible causes of suicidal thoughts

Part 2

• Suicide – the Ripple Effect
• Population-based approach to suicide prevention
• Partnership working
• Working with attitudes and values
• “I’m so glad you told me”

Part 3

• Meeting the needs of a person who is thinking about suicide
• Suicide-safety Guide
• Step 1 – Recognising suicide and asking about suicide
• Step 2 – Understanding options

Part 4

• Step 3 – Safeguarding suicide
• Suicide-safety and self-care
• The risk assessment approach
• Suicide and suicide gestures
• Future learning

This is a highly interactive and emotionally engaging learning experience.

No previous experience or training is necessary. Participants will be asked to self- reflect and empathise with a person having thoughts of suicide. There is no expectation on participants to share personal experiences.