South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 27/05/2016

We are introducing a suicide prevention training programme which aims to help reduce the number of suicides in South Gloucestershire.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Public Health team are running two free training courses during 2016 for anyone wishing to develop their confidence, skills and knowledge to support people who are considering taking their own life. We particularly want to equip as many front line workers from the public and voluntary sector with the skills and confidence they need to help people in crisis.

Our trainers will be using the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course which is widely considered to be the world’s leading suicide prevention training programme. The course takes place over two days, with the first held on 23 and 24 June at Kingswood Civic Centre, followed by another on 15 and 16 November. Both of these courses are already filling up, however anyone wishing to take part can still express an interest in attending.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Adults, Housing and Public Health lead member Cllr Ben Stokes said: “While suicide rates in South Gloucestershire are relatively low, South Gloucestershire Council is committed to reducing the number of suicides we have each year. This training will give a wide range of people who work across South Gloucestershire the skills to take the simple steps needed to support people who are in crisis, and is part of a broader suicide prevention approach in the area.”

South Gloucestershire Council’s Director of Public Health Professor Mark Pietroni said: “Many people do not feel they are qualified to support someone who is talking about suicide but all the research says there are some simple steps any of us can take to make a positive difference. The ASIST training will enable us to give more front line professionals the confidence and knowledge to intervene and support someone in emotional distress.”

South Gloucestershire are one of seven local authorities to benefit from a £85,000 funding allocation from Health Education England to support the development of suicide prevention training. In total 15 local trainers will deliver 42 of the two day ASIST courses during 2016 and 2017 with a predicted 840 people receiving the training.

The first ASIST course is being held at Kingswood Civic Centre on 23 and 24 June, and is free to attend. If you would like to find out more, or book a place, please contact mentalhealth@southglos.gov.uk or telephone the Public Health team on 01454 864616.