Online suicide prevention training
From an article by the Zero Suicide Alliance
The Zero Suicide Alliance is a collaborative of National Health Service trusts, businesses and individuals who are all committed to suicide prevention in the UK and beyond. The alliance is ultimately concerned with improving support for people contemplating suicide by raising awareness of and promoting free, online suicide prevention training which is accessible to all.
The aims of this training are to: enable people to identify when someone is presenting with suicidal thoughts/behaviour, to be able to speak out in a supportive manner, and to empower them to signpost the individual to the correct services or support.
Here's part of Wayne's story:
"I was 17 and at catering college when I first tried to kill myself. I took tablets and was violently ill, but I didn’t tell anyone. The second time, five years later, I was working and living in London as a chef. I took more tablets and was violently sick for three days, but I went back to my job and still didn’t tell anyone. The third attempt failed because the belt I used snapped so I was unconscious but still alive.
"At 33 and working abroad I tried again, this time slashing my wrists. It was as I was doing it I realised, for the first time in my life, that I had a problem. Thinking back I had been unwell since I was around 12. But I just didn’t see suicide as a mental health problem; I felt a failure but only because I couldn’t see it through.
"It took another attempt for me to seek professional help. I then moved back to Liverpool but within a year I started feeling suicidal again. I went to my GP and told him about my experiences. He prescribed me antidepressants and I was referred to hospital. I was working in IT when eight years later the feelings came back. I realised that I had to tell my parents. It was a big step to take; I knew they would be shocked hearing it for the first time. They blamed themselves but they are fantastic parents. My brothers and I had a brilliant childhood and I only have happy memories.
"My dad took me to the GP then to A&E where I was referred to Broadoak Unit. My team there said I had never allowed myself time to recover and urged me not to rush back to work. I finally took their advice. I’m so grateful to my employment advisor Lin Seerey; she helped me think about what I really wanted to do and how I could get the skills to do it.
"I'd say to someone in my position, please don’t suffer in silence like I did for so many years. I don’t like having regrets in life but a regret I do have is not seeking help sooner than I did. We all need a little bit of help sometimes. Although I have done my bit my employment advisor, the Recovery College and my psychiatrist have really helped me turn my life around for the better. I am living proof that if you get the right help things can get better. Your life can improve like mine has. Please seek help."
Take the Alliance's free, online suicide prevention training course It will only take you 20 minutes to complete. It will teach you how to recognise the warning signs and safeguard someone that could be contemplating suicide.
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From an article by the Zero Suicide Alliance, 13/11/2018