Figures recently released said that there were 5,965 recorded suicides in the UK in 2016. Men account for around 75% of suicides – suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 50.
The Sheffield Suicide Prevention Group is made up of people from a range of services and organisations who want to look at practical steps we can take to prevent suicide. Following our media campaign aimed at men last autumn we are developing training for front line staff to equip them to spot warning signs and know how to respond.
Recently a new online training resource has become available. The course is free and takes between 20 – 30 minutes. It runs through a number of scenarios to help people think about what support and advice they could offer.
I have completed the course and would advise everyone to do it and share it with their networks. Spending a little time on this could make a big difference.
The course can be accessed at: https://www.relias.co.uk/zero-suicide-alliance/form
