Suicide & Self Harm

This challenging course, designed for front line workers is approached from a broad range of perspectives; psychological, psychiatric, and social.

Examination of research and statistics will help identify those most at risk. Participants will focus on the knowledge and skills required for preventative approaches and action. Learners will consider strategies for the management of actual suicidal risk as well as dealing with the consequences for everyone of a “successful” suicide.

The course certificate will provide NVQ links.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course learners should understand:

• What is meant by ‘Self-Harm’
• The different ways in which people Self-Harm:
        -‘ordinary’ behaviours e.g. smoking
        -more conscious methods e.g. cutting
• Why people Self-Harm
• Does Self-Harm naturally lead to attempted Suicide
• Ways in which people have traditionally been treated
• Current good practice-how people can be supported and how to engage and establish a working alliance
• Appropriate therapies and where to access these
• Risk assessment and harm minimisation
• A definition of Suicide
• Different Cultural and Religious attitudes to Suicide
• Suicide statistics: What we can learn from these and how do we identify groups of people who are vulnerable:
        -Mental Heath diagnosis
        -Alcohol & substance use
        -lifestyle
        etc.
• The importance of understanding the personal history
• How to identify situations that promote vulnerability
• The signs & patterns of behaviour that can provide warnings
• Preventative strategies
• Reponses to a crisis situation-the options
• How to manage an attempted Suicide
• How to work with the person after the event and longer term support
• How to deal with the discovery of a ‘successful’ Suicide
• How a ‘successful’ Suicide will impact on other people and staff
• How to support those affected
• The need to review and learn from the event

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Handouts
• Chalk and talk
• Word shower method
• Group work
• Handouts

Because of the sensitive nature of the subject trainers will approach this training in a particularly supportive way; however the course would be unsuitable for anyone with unresolved issues relating to the theme.

CP74/4.9