Important information
If you have been affected by a suicide recently, if a suicide is still distressing or you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm please do not complete suicide prevention training at this time and seek support. More information is available here.
Suicide prevention training can trigger difficult feelings, memories and reactions even if you don’t think it will. It’s important therefore to think about how this training may affect you and prepare yourself beforehand.
Training information
This brochure has been produced to help you choose the training most suitable for you and your job role.
A new calendar is released every quarter and extra dates may be added if there is a demand. If you’re unable to attend the scheduled courses for a specific reason please get in touch via email: chooselife@aapct.scot.nhs.uk.
Please click here if you’d like to join our mailing list to receive our quarterly training calendar and general training updates. If you have any questions regarding the training programme please contact: chooselife@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Frequently asked questions
Who can attend the training?
The training is free to attend and is open to staff and volunteers working in Ayrshire & Arran from the following sectors:
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- Health & Social Care Partnerships
- Local Authorities
- Third Sector Agencies
Some examples are:
- Emergency responders and community pharmacy
- Frontline supporters, including the following sectors: debt/money advice, housing, homelessness, care-experienced, violence against women and girls, community justice, addictions services, transport, hospitality and retail, leisure, fitness and sport
- Education, including higher and further education, counsellors, youth work.
- Voluntary organisations and charities.
Can I attend all levels/courses?
The training we provide sits within the informed level (level 1) and skilled level (level 2). The levels of training have been developed to support you in choosing the training most suitable for you and your job role.
Please have a look at our training flowchart and course descriptors to help you choose. You can also visit the NHS Education Scotland (NES) knowledge & skills framework for more information. Please note the LivingWorks training does not fall under the NES KSF levels however we have suggested where the courses would sit based on the skill level of the content. Most services tend to have individuals trained in different levels to give a well-rounded knowledge base. If you are unsure of what level would suit for your role, please speak to your line manager.
Are refresher courses available?
Unfortunately there are no refresher courses and there is no rule or guidance on this. We wouldn’t recommend annual training unless you feel there is a need for this or to progress to the next level of training. We would suggest leaving approx. 3 years before attending again to refresh your skills if you feel it is necessary.
Is bespoke training available?
The Suicide Prevention Training Calendar has been created to provide suicide awareness and prevention training with a multi-agency approach across Ayrshire and Arran. The calendar has a range of courses throughout the year, and we continue to monitor the demand for training and additional courses may be added if appropriate. We encourage those looking to access training to browse our brochure and book a space on the courses provided. We are not in the position to offer bespoke/ad-hoc training out with our calendar. If there are any issues with attending our calendar courses, please contact us at chooselife@aapct.scot.nhs.uk.
Training Flowchart
We recommend you choose the level of training most appropriate for you and your job role. It is not mandatory to attend all courses or progress through the levels. You can attend a level 1 course only or attend a level 2 course without attending level 1. Please be aware that courses from the same level have similar content/learning but have a different delivery format. The Living Works workshops are longer sessions and have more of a practical component whereas NES workshops are shorter sessions and more discussion based.
Introduction to Suicide Prevention
Previously known as “Ask Tell Save a Life”
Level 1
The ‘Informed Level’ provides the essential basic knowledge and skills required by everyone, in any workplace, workforce or community who has the opportunity and ability to positively impact on their own and other’s mental health and wellbeing and contribute to supporting people experiencing mental ill health and preventing self-harm or suicide.
An introduction to suicide prevention using the NHS Education Scotland (NES) Ask Tell Respond animation. This workshop explores the issue of suicide and self-harm in adults, children and young people with a snapshot of the current suicide statistics in Scotland. It helps learners understand the signs that people of all ages may be thinking about suicide and/or self-harm, and how and when to provide immediate help and support.
Please note this session is an introduction to suicide prevention, and does not go into lengthy detail around carrying out a suicide intervention.
Skilled Suicide Prevention Training
Level 2
The ‘Skilled Level’ provides the knowledge and skills required by ‘non-specialist’ frontline staff working in health, social care, the wider public and other services, who are likely to have direct and/or substantial contact with people who may be at risk of mental ill health, self-harm or suicide.
Based on the skilled level NHS Education Scotland (NES) information this includes the factors that might cause people to think about suicide, working with people to assess their risk of suicide, conversations that enable people to talk about their thoughts of suicide, when to seek emergency support and intervention for people at risk of suicide, practical and emotional approaches to supporting people at risk of suicide. Includes additional information about children and young people who may be at risk of suicide. This is aimed towards workers who are likely to have direct and/or substantial contact with people who may be at risk of mental ill health, self-harm or suicide, meaning that they have an important contribution to make in mental health improvement and self-harm and suicide prevention.
If you are interested in this training but have attended ASIST in the last 3 years please be aware that Skilled Suicide Prevention has a similar content/learning but has a different delivery format and is more discussion based.
safeTALK
Level 1
LivingWorks suicide alertness for everyone equips people to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. The course is designed to help participants:
- Recognise that a person might be having thoughts of suicide
- Engage that person in direct and open talk about suicide
- Move quickly to connect them with someone trained in suicide intervention
ASIST
Level 2
LivingWorks applied suicide intervention skills training, to preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves. Listen and talk to a person with suicidal intention without judgement. Provide comfort to a person with suicidal intention.
ASIST is a two day in-person workshop with a focus on practical skills.
You’ll learn how to recognise when someone may be thinking about suicide, and how to provide a skilled intervention and develop a safety plan with the person to connect them to further support.