Delivered by Homeless Link

Helping you to support clients who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviour.  Exploring possible prevention and post-incident protocols, and how to support clients and staff after an incident.

Course overview:

This course will explore the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting.  This course is for anyone who seeks greater understanding and confidence to intervene with people at risk of suicide.

The course will acknowledge that supporting people in distress who are feeling suicidal is in itself difficult and distressing. It aims to improve your confidence and ability in providing such support both to clients and, if you are a manager, to staff.

The course will examine possible individual and organisational suicide prevention strategies and protocols. It will also examine possible strategies and protocols that will help staff and managers to respond to a suicide or other deaths within services.

The course will encourage reflection from participants who have their own relevant experiences of supporting people who feel suicidal and will also include discussion of other practice based case studies. In doing so, difficult and sensitive issues will be brought up which some participants may have professional or personal experience of. Participants should be prepared for this as best they can, whilst the trainer will strive to create a safe environment for all.

Homeless Link only use experienced suicide prevention trainers to deliver a unique learning experience.

Course content:

• The impact and value of personal and professional experience with suicide
• Barriers that prevent people at risk seeking help
• Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours
• The Signs of Suicide
• Partnership working and community resources
• Suicidal behaviour; reasons and magnitude of the community health problem
• Role of the worker in managing suicide interventions; different roles with different people
• Approaches and process of suicide intervention including desired outcomes
• Personal impact on staff and the importance of Reflective Practice

Please note:

This is a challenging and emotive subject, this course may trigger some emotions.  Participants should be prepared for this as best they can, whilst the trainer will strive to create a safe and psychologically informed environment for all.  Delegates will be able to take time out of the session to look after their wellbeing if they feel the need to.

Who should attend?

For managers and frontline staff.

Level:  

Introductory:  this course does not require prior knowledge or experience of the issues being discussed.

Duration: 

This one-day course will be delivered on 23 February 2026.

Please note this online course will not be recorded.

Everyone who works in our line of work should attend this course.