Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training
Supporting someone at risk of suicide can be difficult. Wesley LifeForce delivers suicide prevention training to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to support people at risk of suicide in your community or workplace.
Our comprehensive approach educates people about suicide, challenges attitudes and teaches basic engagement and suicide intervention skills. Our robust program is regularly reviewed by our national advisory board.
Research shows talking about suicidal intentions or thoughts can help reduce intent.
Partnering for positive impact
SBS Translation Services partnered with Wesley LifeForce to reduce suicide among refugee and asylum-seeker communities in Australia. Translating Wesley LifeForce Refugee and Asylum Seeker Suicide Prevention Training into six languages – Arabic, Dari, Jaren, Khmer, Persian and Tamil – this collaboration aims to overcome language barriers, promote cultural sensitivity and equip communities to recognise and address suicide risk factors.
Wesley LifeForce also partnered with The Seedling Group to develop the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Training program to address high suicide rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A study by the Institute of Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University praised the program content, cultural sensitivity and intervention and response techniques.
S.A.L.T.
See
Know and recognise the signs that someone is struggling.
Ask
Ask if they’re having thoughts of suicide and allow them to open up.
Talking openly about suicide is vital to increase awareness, reduce stigma and prevent suicide in our communities – but how do you start the conversation?
An integral part of Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training is the SALT Method – See, Ask, Listen and Take.
Listen
Actively listen so you can both gain clarity and a better understanding of the situation.
Take
Take action to support them to seek professional help and build a safety plan.
Community training
Simple effective suicide interventions can save lives. Our community suicide prevention training workshops teach you how to recognise someone who may be at risk of suicide and take appropriate action.
Our accredited facilitators have completed suicide intervention training, and many are also qualified counsellors. Our workshops have been evaluated by the Mindframe National Media Initiative and the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention.
Everyone is invited to participate in our workshops and encouraged to play an active role in suicide prevention.
Please note, our community suicide prevention training workshops may not be suitable for people recently bereaved by suicide. For bereavement support or if you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Community suicide prevention workshops are accredited with Quality Innovation Performance Limited, assessed against the Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement.
Workplace training
Our workplace suicide prevention training workshops empower employees to recognise and support colleagues, family or friends at risk of suicide. These valuable skills can save lives and create a more supportive work environment.
Benefits of our training:
- increases awareness and understanding of suicide risk factors
- builds confidence in addressing sensitive topics
- enhances workplace mental health support
- provides practical, life-saving skills applicable both at work and in personal life.
No previous training is required to participate, and workshops are suitable and recommended for all staff levels within a business, including:
- senior and line managers
- HR professionals
- counsellors and psychologists
- police officers and emergency services workers
- ministers, youth workers and social workers
- teachers and sports coaches.
Full and half day courses available.
Contact us
Healthcare sector-specific workplace training
Healthcare professionals are the frontline for suicide support, so we co-designed sector-specific suicide prevention training workshops for the healthcare industry.
GPs and practice nurses
- Greater understanding of risk assessment, suicide prevention, intervention strategies and patient support and management.
- Practice-specific strategy to support a suicidal patient.
- Endorsed by the Australian Practice Nurses Association.
- Participants qualify for six CPD hours upon completion.
GP office staff
- Understanding of key role in identifying patients at risk of suicide.
- Recognising patients at risk of suicide when presenting to the practice.
- Increased understanding of how to support a patient at risk of suicide.
- Participants qualify for two Australian Association of Practice Management CPD points per hour of education upon completion.
Counsellors
- Improved understanding of the signs that a person may be at risk of suicide.
- Learn simple and effective suicide intervention strategies.
- Conduct a suicide intervention.
- Participants qualify for four hours of CPD points upon completion.
Our General Practitioners and Practice Nurses workshops are accredited with Quality Innovation Performance Limited, assessed against the Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement.
Aged care nurses
- Recognising the signs of suicide in aged care residents.
- Identifying risk factors for suicidality in older people.
- Conduct a suicide intervention.
- Meets Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia CPD requirements.
Aged care workers
- Identify residents at risk of suicide.
- Developing skills to record and report concerns.
