
Suicide First Aid (SFA) Training
The Suicide First Aid courses are nationally recognized training programs that equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to identify signs of suicidal thoughts and intervene with confidence and compassion. Designed for anyone aged 16 and over, the courses teach how to have a supportive conversation, assess risk, and guide someone towards the help they need. By increasing awareness and reducing stigma, Suicide First Aid empowers people to play a vital role in suicide prevention within their communities, workplaces, or personal lives.
Suicide First Aid: Understanding Suicide Intervention
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding Suicide and Its Causes: Gain insights into the complex factors that can lead to thoughts of suicide and suicide behaviours, including mental health issues, emotional distress, and societal pressures.
- Recognising Signs: Learn how to identify the verbal, behavioural, and situational indicators that someone may be thinking of suicide.
- Effective Communication Techniques: Develop skills to engage in sensitive and supportive conversations, helping to de-escalate crises and offer hope to those in need.
- Immediate Intervention Strategies: Acquire practical tools and approaches for providing immediate support, including how to refer individuals to mental health professionals and other resources.
- Ethical Considerations: Understand the ethical responsibilities involved in suicide prevention, including confidentiality, consent, and the importance of self-care.
Course Content
Part 1: Understanding the Foundations of Suicide Prevention
- Introduction and Programme Overview: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the programme's objectives and structure.
- Working with Societal Attitudes Toward Suicide: Explore how societal views impact individuals at risk and shape prevention strategies.
- How Personal Values Influence Suicide Thoughts: Discover the link between an individual’s values and the development of suicide ideation.
- The Hidden Toll®: Understand the stigma surrounding suicide and the experiences of survivors who have been bereaved by suicide.
- The Ripple Effect®: Delve into how suicide affects not just the individual, but the wider community, creating a ripple of impact.
- Understanding Thoughts of Suicide and Suicide Behaviour: Learn about the various causes of thoughts of suicide and the differences between intention and outcome in suicide behaviour.
- Intention vs. Outcome of Behaviour®: Examine the critical distinctions between a person’s intentions and the outcomes of their actions.
- Possible causes of Suicide Thougths: Gain insights into the complex and varied causes that can lead to suicide thoughts.
Part 2: Strategic Approaches to Suicide Prevention.
- Population-Based Approach to Suicide Prevention: Explore strategies to prevent suicide on a broader scale.
- Suicide Prevention – Intervention – Postvention: Learn the key stages of suicide prevention, from early intervention to postvention support.
- Partnership Working – First Aid Approach: Understand how to collaborate effectively with others to provide Suicide First Aid® to individuals struggling.
- “I’m Really Glad You Told Me”®: Watch a powerful audio-visual presentation featuring real-life scenarios and colleagues who have successfully intervened in cases of suicide.
Part 3: Practical Skills for Supporting Individuals
- Meeting the Needs of a Person thinking about Suicide: Learn how to address the specific needs of individuals whose suicide thoughts are driven by different pressures.
- Suicide-Safety Guide – 3 Step Model:
- Step 1 – Recognising Suicide Thoughts: Understand how to identify warning signs and ask the right questions in conversations with those thinking about suicide.
- Step 2 – Listening to Understand and Exploring Options: Explore the importance of listening and how to discuss and explore different support options with a person having thoughts of suicide.
Part 4: Ensuring Safety and Self-Care in Suicide Prevention
- Step 3 – Helping You Cope: Strategies for supporting both the person with thoughts of suicide and yourself through challenging situations.
- Future Learning: Learn effective ways to document interventions and identify opportunities for ongoing education and development in suicide prevention.
- Self-Care for Suicide First Aiders®: Understand the importance of self-care and how to manage the emotional impact of working with those affected by suicide.
Cost
Discussed on enquiry
Takeaways
Upon completion, Learners can gain the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Level 4 Award in Suicide First Aid®. This is a written assignment and upon completion Learners will receive an official qualification certificate from RSPH.
Format
This is a concise, focused programme delivered over Zoom and lasting 1 day, making it accessible for busy professionals. The programme includes a mix of interactive presentations, real-life case studies, and role-playing exercises to ensure Learners leave with practical, actionable skills.
Suicide First Aid Lite: Understanding Suicide Intervention
Learning Outcomes
Understanding Suicide and Its Causes: Gain insights into the complex factors that can lead to thoughts of suicide and suicide behaviours, including mental health issues, emotional distress, and societal pressures.
Recognising Signs: Learn how to identify the verbal, behavioural, and situational indicators that someone may be thinking of suicide.
Effective Communication Techniques: Develop skills to engage in sensitive and supportive conversations, helping to de-escalate crises and offer hope to those in need.
Immediate Intervention Strategies: Acquire practical tools and approaches for providing immediate support, including how to refer individuals to mental health professionals and other resources.
Ethical Considerations: Understand the ethical responsibilities involved in suicide prevention, including confidentiality, consent, and the importance of self-care.
Course Content
Part 1: Understanding the Foundations of Suicide Prevention
- Introduction and Programme Overview: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the programme's objectives and structure.
- Working with Societal Attitudes Toward Suicide: Explore how societal views impact individuals with thoughts of suicide, and shape prevention strategies.
- How Personal Values Influence Suicide Thoughts: Discover the link between an individual’s values and the development of suicide ideation.
- The Hidden Toll®: Understand the stigma surrounding suicide and the experiences of survivors who have been bereaved by suicide.
- The Ripple Effect®: Delve into how suicide affects not just the individual, but the wider community, creating a ripple of impact.
- Understanding Thoughts of Suicide and Suicide Behaviour: Learn about the various causes of thoughts of suicide and the differences between intention and outcome in suicide behaviour.
- Intention vs. Outcome of Behaviour®: Examine the critical distinctions between a person’s intentions and the outcomes of their actions.
- Exploring the Causes of Suicide Ideation: Gain insights into the complex and varied causes that can lead to suicide thoughts.
- ‘I’m Really Glad You Told Me’®: Watch a powerful short film featuring a real-life case study of someone who contemplated suicide and was persuaded to choose life.
Part 2: Practical Strategies for Suicide Intervention and Self-Care
- The Suicide Safety Guide: Learn the 3-Step Model designed to equip Suicide First Aiders® with essential skills.
- Step 1 – Recognising Suicide Feelings: Master the ability to identify when someone is thinking about suicide and ask the right, life-saving questions.
- Step 2 – Exploring and Understanding Options: Develop skills to engage in meaningful conversations that explore the person’s options and offer hope.
- Step 3 – Helping the person with thoughts of suicide cope - Using an evidence-based approach to develop a suicide safety plan.
- Self-care for Suicide First Aiders® - Understand the importance of self-care and how to manage the emotional impact of working with those affected by suicide.
Cost
Discussed on enquiry
Takeaways
Upon completion, participants will receive a digital badge from NCSPET, demonstrating their knowledge of suicide prevention as a Suicide First Aider®, along with a certificate of attendance.
Format
This is a concise, focused programme delivered over Zoom and lasting 1 day, making it accessible for busy professionals. The programme includes a mix of interactive presentations, real-life case studies, and role-playing exercises to ensure Learners leave with practical, actionable skills.



