Suicide First Aid

SUICIDE FIRST AID

The Courses

These courses cover the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting and in the case of Suicide First Aid for Children & young People in Schools (SFA CYP), in educational settings too. They’re developed in the UK by the National Centre for Suicide Prevention and Training (NCSPT).

This training compliments and builds on the knowledge, skills and key messages learnt through MHFA England’s Mental Health First Aid Course.

Pre-training requirement:

No previous experience or training is necessary, although having completed a Mental Health First Aid course would be an additional benefit. 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.

SFA Lite (3.5 hrs)

The programme teaches the skills needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and to pass the person onto a suicide first aider.

SFA USI 1day (6 hrs)

‘Suicide First Aid Through Understanding Suicide Intervention’

Two independent evaluations of Suicide First Aid Through Understanding Suicide Intervention (SFAUSI) training in 2016 and 2017 by Dr Paul Rogers demonstrated significant statistical change in 14 of 19 measures. Increased confidence and reduced anxiety in dealing with suicide, were among the leading outcomes.

City and Guilds Qualification Option Available

This course is a nationally recognised qualification and provides the opportunity to access City and Guilds Unit 407 ‘Understanding Suicide Intervention’, part of the Diploma in Healthcare Support worth 6 points on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). This is through an application process to City and Guilds (C&G) within one week of the training date and comes with an additional cost. Once the application to C&G is successful and their fee paid, the module is solely managed by City and Guilds. It involves completing a workbook of tasks that are assessed against four set learning outcomes and their associated criteria within 6 weeks of the payment date.

Training Aims:

This unit is aimed at individuals who have a role in contributing to suicide prevention. This may include workers in the health and social care, education or criminal justice sectors and members of local communities who form part of a network of support within an organised suicide prevention framework. It provides an understanding of the factors that may lead to suicidal behaviour and knowledge of the key components of suicide prevention.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand suicidal behaviour, its causes and prevalence.
Understand the role of the caregiver in managing suicide interventions.
Understand the process of suicide intervention.
Know how to reflect on the application and personal impact of suicide interventions.

SFA: CYP 1day (6 hrs)

‘Suicide First Aid for Children and Young People in Schools’

This course is comprised of 4 parts, each 90 minutes duration, teaching the theory and practise of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any educative setting with transferable skills to personal settings. Captured in a one-day training event, (City & Guilds Assured) for school staff seeking greater understanding and confidence to intervene with children and young people experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The course gives learners the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths amongst children and young people. Responding appropriately from a Safeguarding perspective, underpinned by UNCRC and a trauma informed approach.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge and skills needed to identify CYP who may be thinking about suicide.
Opportunity to build confidence through practise to competently facilitate a Suicide First Aid intervention.