Suicide prevention and mental health training

Positive Action in the Community (external link) provide training courses on behalf of Lancashire County Council Public Health. They are free to individuals and organisations living and working in Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen areas).

Youth Mental Health First Aid

This two day training course is for people that teach, work, live with or care for young people aged 8 - 18. Learn to spot the early signs of a mental health issue and how to provide help on a first aid basis.

You must be aged 18+ to attend.

SafeTalk

A course for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide. Learn four basic steps to recognise people with thoughts of suicide and connect them with suicide helping resources. This three-hour training can help you make a difference. You must be aged 15+ to attend.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

ASIST is a two day workshop in suicide first aid. It teaches you to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. You don't need any formal training to attend the workshop. You must be aged 16+ to attend.

See the Positive Action in the Community website for more information about these courses.

Online training from the Zero Suicide Alliance

There is a free online suicide prevention training course from the Zero Suicide Alliance (external link). This 20 minute course includes how to recognise the warning signs and safeguard someone who could be contemplating suicide.

Online course for young people from Alumnia

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 8 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers.

Local mental health services

If you're worried about someone, or need help now, advice and guidance can be found on Healthier Lancashire and Cumbria's website (external website). There's also an interactive map of mental health services.

The Wellbeing Helpline and Texting Service (external website) is an out of hours service for people who need emotional support in relation to their own mental health or that of someone they know.

More information and advice

Our website has advice on staying mentally well including mental health resources, sleeping well, reducing stress, memory loss, dementia and five ways to manage wellbeing.

For more information on suicidal feelings, possible causes and support visit these websites:

  • Lancashire Mind - Suicide prevention Lancashire Mind have been commissioned by Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria to deliver a range of training to help professionals and community members across Lancashire and South Cumbria to grow in confidence and skills around talking about suicide.
  • Mind - suicidal feelings - explains what suicidal feelings are, including possible causes.
  • Mind - supporting someone who feels suicidal - explains how to support someone who feels suicidal, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.
  • Hub of Hope - a national mental health database which brings together organisations and charities from across the country who offer mental health advice and support, together in one place.
  • Stay Alive - an app that offers help and support both to people with thoughts of suicide, and to people concerned about someone else.
  • Staying Safe from suicidal thoughts - information about how to make a safety plan for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or supporting someone else.
  • Samaritans - a helpline for anyone who needs to talk, advice if you are worried about someone else and guidance for businesses. 
  • Papyrus - prevention of young suicide and a helpline for people under 35.
  • Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - suicide prevention campaign for men.
  • The Silver Line - a helpline for older people.
  • Childline - information, advice and support for children and young people under 19.
  • Amparo - emotional and practical support for anybody who has felt the impact of suicide. Amparo Liaison Workers can listen to your needs and assist you in accessing the support you need, whilst helping with a range of practical matters such as: dealing with police and coroners; helping with media enquiries; preparing for and attending inquest and helping you to access other, appropriate, local support services.
  • Support after Suicide Partnership – a network of organisations that support people who have been bereaved or affected by suicide. There are a range of support materials on the site including the Help is at Hand support guide that provides people affected by suicide with both emotional and practical support.
  • Cruse Bereavement Support offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. We have a Freephone national helpline and local services, and a website (hopeagain.org.uk) specifically for children and young people.
  • A bereaved by suicide support group facilitated by a bereavement counsellor runs fortnightly on a Thursday at Preston and Chorley. For more information and to see if the group is right for you, e-mail CAD@lscft.nhs.uk or WhatsApp 07973 782833 to arrange a chat with the counsellor.