MHFA Conversations about Suicide
As a stand-alone course, MHFA Conversations about Suicide training is a complement to the 12-hour Standard Mental Health First Aid course.
When people are in a crisis and unable to see a way out, they may have suicidal thoughts and behaviour about ending their pain. 3144 people died by suicide in 2021, which equates to 8 (eight) to 9 (nine) deaths by suicide each day in Australia. Suicide is a major preventable reason of death.
It is distressing to realise that someone close to you may be considering suicide. Most people who consider suicide get through the crisis. Support from the family, friends, colleagues and professionals can make a big difference in helping people stay safe and re-establish reasons for living.
People who are considering suicide often feel isolated, alone and may feel that help is not available, people around them does not understand what they are going through. They might believe that suicide is the only way out of the difficulties that they are experiencing.
This does not mean that a person will have thoughts of suicide due to mental health problems. Nevertheless, mental health problems can affect a person’s interpretation of their circumstances. This could influence the motivation and openness to seek out support, therefore we need to be particularly aware of the vulnerability to suicide that people experiencing mental illness may have.
Mental Health First Aid Conversations about Suicide course, will help you identify the early warning signs, what to do, what to say, where you can go for help, how to support the person experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
FAQ
How long is the MHFA Conversations about Suicide Training?
Online or onsite training for 5 (four) hours.
During the MHFA Conversations about Suicide Training, what will I learn?
Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person training, teaches how to offer support to a person experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Thoughts of suicide are quite common, but they are not always acted upon. Mental health first aid actions that any member of the public can take to decrease the risk of a person acting on thoughts of suicide. Mental health first aid actions can help to keep the person safe until the person receives professional help or until the crisis resolves.
During the MHFA for the Suicidal Person training you will learn:
- about suicide rates and risk factors in the Australian context
- how to recognise the early-warning signs for suicide
- how to confidently support and assist a person in crisis situation
- what to say and do
- how to start a conversation with someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- practical skills to put into action
- where the person can get help
- how to make a safety plan
Employee MHFA Conversations about Suicide Training: what's included?
- MHFA Conversations about Suicide Training handbook
- Certificate of completion
Cost, what is the cost of the training?
The cost of the training is – $125+GST
Please note that the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person training is not a postvention course and is not recommended for individuals recently grieving by suicide. MHFA for the Suicidal Person training is not a therapy or support group. This evidence-based course has been developed by the input of mental health professionals, researchers and consumer advocates.
Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person training course is a face to face course and is based on MHFA’s expert consensus guidelines ‘Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours: First Aid Guidelines’.
At the completion of the course you will be have practical skills and knowledge to have a conversation with a suicidal person. This training complements the 12-hour Standard MHFA training course. If you would like to become an accredited first aider, you are required to attend SMHFA training.
WHS and Training Compliance Solutions offer high-quality training courses on a range of topics to all organisations and the general public. If you would like to us to deliver onsite MHFA for the Suicidal Person training session, call our team on 07 5499 2406.
