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Hertfordshire County Council

Suicide Prevention Training Courses

The Suicide Prevention Network involves more than 20 organisations. Our vision is to make Hertfordshire a county where no-one ever gets to a point where they feel suicide is their only option.

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Supporting adults

Zero suicide alliance - Online Training – 30 minutes – For everyone

In under 30 minutes, the training aims to give you the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. This training also works towards the wider aim of breaking down the stigma surrounding suicide by encouraging open conversations about it.

ZSA Full Training

Spot the Signs - 1 hour - For those working within primary care or in voluntary organisations supporting adults

This is a fully funded 1-hour introductory session for professionals, volunteers and organisations working with adults 18+ in Hertfordshire. Sessions are held either online on zoom, by booking via EventBrite or may be held both online or face to face in bespoke group sessions, subject to a minimum number of attendees.

Those attending the introductory 1-hour overview are welcome to increase their knowledge by going on to sign up for a 3 hour session, which is also fully funded. 

Session Outline

The session will provide an overview in brief of:

  • Warning signs that may be present in those feeling suicidal
  • Key risk factors
  • How to respond to those you notice may be distressed
  • Information on how to access available additional support (signposting)
  • Include post attendance documentation

For further information or to book a private session within your organisation, please contact Debbie Worrall at hpft.spotthesigns@nhs.net.

Individual bookings for our open sessions can be made via Eventbrite

Spot the signs - 3 hours - For those working within primary care or in voluntary organisations supporting adults

Fully funded 3-hour course for professionals, volunteers and organisations, working with adults 18+ in Hertfordshire.  Sessions are held either online on zoom, by booking via EventBrite or may be held both online or face to face in bespoke group sessions, subject to a minimum number of attendees. This course is CPD accredited. 

Session Outline

The purpose of this session is to increase participants’ knowledge and awareness about suicide. We will explore information about which groups of people are most at risk and why, protective factors and briefly review practical strategies for identifying and responding to signs of risk in adults. You will be provided some of the latest information and statistics in regards to suicide nationally and locally in Hertfordshire.

The training will:

  • Increase awareness and knowledge about suicide
  • Explore information about which groups of people are most at risk and why
  • Make you feel more confident in spotting the signs of someone feeling suicidal
  • Provide information on how to access available additional support (signposting)
  • Include post attendance documentation

For further information or to book a private session within your organisation, please contact Debbie Worrall at hpft.spotthesigns@nhs.net.

Individual bookings for our open sessions can be made via Eventbrite

Mental health first aid - Online or face to face training – 1 or 2 days – For anyone supporting adults

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

You’ll learn to recognise warning signs of mental ill health, and develop the skills and confidence to approach and support someone while keeping yourself safe.

You’ll also learn how to empower someone to access the support they might need for recovery or successful management of symptoms. This could include self-help books or websites, accessing therapy services through their GP, their school or place of work, online self-referral, support groups, and more.

What’s more, you’ll gain an understanding of how to support positive wellbeing and tackle stigma in the world around you.

To book on a course please visit  Adult · MHFA England

OLLIE - Talk Safe, Plan Safe, and Talk Safe, and Plan Safe– Online training - For everyone(some free places available)

This online training reviews key messages from suicide intervention trainings giving you an opportunity to gain skills and knowledge to help you prevent suicide. The session will ensure you are up to date with current thinking and practice including how CBT and TOC may be used in crisis. In this session you will have an opportunity to review strategies such as creating a safe plan, crisis plan and comfort box – a must for anyone supporting others. This talk is open to all, welcoming delegates with no previous suicide prevention training and also to those looking for a refresher who may have previously completed Spot the Signs, 10 Tools, safeTALK and ASIST .

This session is perfect as a refresher and great for those that want all the ‘stuff’ in one hit .This is a fast paced, content rich presentation, ideal for those who need as much information as possible but are short on time. There is an optional Q&A at the end for those that would enjoy a moment of reflection and conversation with other participants.

For those that prefer a slower pace with moments for reflection and interaction we offer the same session in two halves:

  • ‘Talk Safe’ is a 90 minute session that explores what gets in the way of telling, what gets in the way of asking and shares a novel intervention approach via a case study.
  • ‘Plan Safe’ is a 90 minute session that offers a safe place with guided practice to explore how to create an effective Safe Plan for yourself or others.

Book on a course- https://theolliefoundation.org/training/talk-safe-plan-safe/

OLLIE Foundation ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - face to face training – 2 days – For anyone supporting adults

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two day interactive workshop in suicide first aid and more. ASIST teaches participants to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop – anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.

Since its initial development in 1983 by LivingWorks, ASIST has received regular updates to reflect improvements in knowledge and practice, and over 2,000,000 people worldwide have taken the workshop. Studies show that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings in those at risk and is a cost-effective way to help address the problem of suicide.

Book on a course at  ASIST Training | The OLLIE Foundation

Supporting children and young people

Spot the signs - Online or face to face Training – 4.5 hours – For anyone supporting children and young people

Spot the Signs – Youth Suicide Prevention Training

The purpose of this training is to increase knowledge and awareness related to suicide in children and young people (CYP). We will explore information about which groups of CYP are most at risk and why, as well as developing confidence in using practical strategies for identifying and responding to signs of suicide risk in CYP. We will reflect on the latest information and statistics in regards to suicide in CYP, exploring the contemporary effects of the online world and social media on suicidality.

By the end of the session, attendees will:

  • Have a broad awareness of suicide in CYP, including how suicide risk develops
  • Understand some of the misconceptions surrounding suicide in CYP and be knowledgeable about the impact of stigma
  • Feel confident in responding to and supporting CYP with suicidal thoughts, intent or plans
  • Have an increased knowledge of services available in Hertfordshire to support CYP experiencing suicidal thoughts and know where and when to signpost/refer on for additional support

Target audience: Anyone working with or supporting young people aged 9-25.

To book a closed in-house session please email: cyp@hertsmindnetwork.org

To book a place on an open session, please visit the HSCP training platform: https://hscb.event-booking.org.uk/

Spot the signs - Online or face to face training – 2 hours – For anyone supporting children and young people

Spot the Signs – Youth Suicide Prevention Overview Training

The purpose of this training is to provide a brief overview of suicide in children and young people (CYP). We will explore which groups of CYP are most at risk of suicide and focus on prevention techniques to use with CYP.

By the end of the session, attendees will:

  • Have a basic awareness of suicide in CYP
  • Have an understanding of warning signs for suicidality in CYP
  • Have a basic knowledge of responding to and supporting CYP with suicidal thoughts, intent or plans.
  • Have an increased knowledge of services available in Hertfordshire to support CYP experiencing suicidal thoughts and know where and when to signpost them for additional support.

Target audience: Anyone working with or supporting young people aged 9-25.

To book a closed in-house session please email: cyp@hertsmindnetwork.org

Mental Health First Aid Youth Courses - Online or face to face training – 1 or 2 days – For anyone supporting children and young people

Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse.

Our courses won't teach you to be a therapist, but we will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis - and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

But more than that, we aim to give you the information and skills to look after your own mental health so that you can set an example for young people. By giving you the tools to have these conversations, we hope to empower you to create a mentally healthy, supportive environment in your family, school, peer group or community.

Let's create a future where mental health is treated as a normal part of life, in the same way as physical health. A future where every young person has access to support if they need it.

To book on a course please visit Youth · MHFA England

For school staff please book through hertsvalleysccg.schoolsmh@nhs.net