Suicide prevention training

Staying Safe from Suicide: Best practice guidance e-learning

Staying Safe from Suicide e-learning - This e-learning session is designed to complement the Staying Safe from Suicide Guidance, launched in April 2025. 

The e-learning provides practical, evidence-based guidance on how to approach and support people to stay safe from suicide. It features case study-based exercises that allow individuals to develop their knowledge and apply the guidance in real-world scenarios. The training covers the key principles of the Staying Safe from Suicide guidance, and explains the evidence behind the approach, and provides clear implementation strategies.

The Gloucestershire Suicide Prevention Partnership encourages any person who comes in to contact with members of the public to complete this training. 

Online information and training - accessible to all

Suicide Awareness Training - full version: a more in-depth 30 minute free online suicide awareness training which aims to give you the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. It focuses on breaking stigma and encourages open conversations.  This is accessible and available to anyone. 

Suicide Awareness Training - veteran edition: a 30 minute online, interactive training course for veterans, their family members and friends but can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over. It includes three conversation examples: with a loved one, a colleague and a stranger. Three video stories are also shared. Two from bereaved friends, and one from a former Army Officer, who talks about his mental health struggles and how a letter from his friends stopped him taking his own life.

Suicide Awareness Training - university student edition: a 20 minute online, interactive training course for university students, their family and friends but can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over. This has been developed specifically for university students and includes information and scenarios that are related to experiences at university.

Suicide Awareness Training - taxi driver edition: a 10 minute online, interactive training course developed for taxi and private hire drivers but can be taken by anyone over the age of 16. It shares information about suicide and coaches you through a taxi driver and passenger related scenario to help you recognise signs of suicidal behaviour and have a conversation with someone you may be worried about.

Autism and Suicide Awareness Training: This is an online course that can take up to an hour to complete. It is co-produced with people from the autistic community, their Autism and Suicide Awareness Training aims to; share information about autism and suicide risk, share real experiences, coach you through spotting the signs and supporting an autistic person with four different scenarios and share resources for further support.

Social Isolation Training – step-up module- A brief introduction to social isolation. In 5 to 10 minutes, you will learn how social isolation affects our mental health and how to step up and help someone who feels isolated.

Whilst the training was developed to support people during the Covid-19 pandemic, the learning from this training course can be used to support anyone who is socially isolated.

Grassroots Real Talk About Suicide: Interactive Film

• A free interactive film (15 - 10 minutes) that helps guide the viewer as they make choices to support someone with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.  

Money Talk Toolkit

• Developed in conjunction with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), the Personalised Care Institute (PCI) is pleased to host the Money Talk Toolkit – created to equip health and care professionals to use personalised care approaches to identify, understand, support, and refer people with money-related health issues, in order to achieve the outcomes that most matter to them.
• Access the e-learning on the Personalised Care Institute Website.

Mental Health and Money Toolkit

• The Mental Health and Money Toolkit is a resource to help you understand, manage and improve your mental and financial health.
• The toolkit can be accessed on the Mental Health & Money Advice Website.
• If you are a healthcare professional, you can access your own version of the toolkit by following the link below.

 Mental Health and Money Toolkit guide for healthcare professionals

Funded suicide prevention/intervention and mental health awareness training 

We arrange a variety of training courses each year which cover a range of skills and topics under the themes of mental wellbeing, suicide prevention and self-harm. We strive to ensure there is a mix of delivery methods (online and face to face), length (3 hours – 2 days) and experience level (awareness to advanced skills). The courses are open to anyone working in the public and voluntary sectors. Below you will find information on these courses.

ASIST

Developed by LivingWorks, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a 2-day (face-to-face) courses which teaches how to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Visit the LivingWorks Website to find out more information.

Suicide First Aid - Understanding Suicide Intervention

1-day training solution teaching suicide intervention skills. Teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting. For more information on SFA training visit the Suicide First Aid Website

Suicide First Aid Lite

The Suicide First Aid Lite is a half day alternative to the 1-day SFA. 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. For more information on SFA Lite training visit the Suicide First Aid Website

Self-Harm Awareness

Harmless provide a range of training courses and e-learning in self harm awareness, suicide prevention, suicide bereavement and mental health awareness. Visit the Harmless Website to access e-learning and discover course dates.

Fundamental Wellbeing Skills & First Aid

The Fundamental suite of courses is all about having genuine empathy for others and helping individuals recognise ‘alarm bells’ to help prevent illness or decline in wellbeing. There are a variety of mental health training courses, please visit the SkillBase First Aid Website to find one that suits you.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Developed by MHFA England, this is a 2-day (either face-to-face or online) course which teaches the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people (adults) experiencing poor mental health, to help attendees be confident to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.​

PABBS 

Developed by Suicide Bereavement UK, PABBS (Postvention: Assisting those Bereaved By Suicide) is a 1-day (face-to-face) courses which increases the knowledge, skills and confidence of those supporting people bereaved or affected by suicide so that they can appropriately respond to and care for them. 

Click here for more information on what courses are currently available.

If you have any questions, please contact the Public Health team at suicideprevention@gloucestershire.gov.uk.