Learning about suicide
We believe that if everyone understood the key issues surrounding mental health, self-harm and suicide prevention we would be able to help so many more people. Suicide is surrounded by stigma and shame and opening up this conversation and enabling people to feel more comfortable to use the word ‘suicide’ and talk openly with others about mental health and suicidal feelings would be a big step in the right direction.
This is why as part of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan, Every Life Matters, we are developing learning resources for the health and wider public workforce to raise awareness of the issues that surround mental health, self-harm and suicide prevention.
Our learning resources are designed to help people to recognise when they, or others, may be struggling with their mental health — and ultimately help to prevent suicide. We believe every suicide is preventable and as we continue to live through extremely challenging times now more than ever ‘Every Life Matters’.
Some extremely useful and informative learning resources have been developed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) in partnership with Public Health Scotland (PHS) which can be used by staff working in health, social care and other public sectors to support them in their role and help them to meet their responsibilities.
Our future ambition, which we acknowledge is aiming high, is that all staff in every NHS board and local authority in Scotland will use these learning resources in the future.
Scotland’s Knowledge and Skills Framework for Mental Health Improvement, Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Framework provides guidance which can be adapted to suit different needs such as the level of knowledge that is required, local contexts and circumstances.
These learning resources can be used at a personal, team, service provider and organisational level in several ways, and for a range of purposes to suit all levels of knowledge and experience. They also take local contexts and circumstances into consideration.
Materials are tailored to these levels:
- Informed: for everyone in any workplace, workforce or community, who can have a positive impact on their own and other’s mental health and wellbeing
- Skilled: for ‘non-specialist’ frontline staff working in health, social care, the wider public and other services who are likely to have direct contact with people who may be at risk of mental ill health, self-harm or suicide
- Enhanced: for staff working in health and social care and wider public services who have regular and intense contact with people experiencing mental ill health or distress and who may be at risk of self-harm or suicide
- Specialist: for those who play a specialist role in mental health improvement and preventing self-harm or suicide, this includes specialist mental or public health professionals.
As part of these resources animations have been created which are suitable for use by everyone, in any workplace, workforce or community. One of them is for those who work with Adults and the other is for people who work with Children and Young People.
The Adult animations are about mental health and how to maintain this, the factors that can lead to mental distress or mental ill-health, how to have compassionate conversations to support people who are experiencing mental distress or may be feeling suicidal and ways to help them seek help.
While the Children and Young People animations explores some of the factors that influence young people’s mental health and resilience from birth, how to engage proactively with children and young people about mental health. The difficult issues of self-harm and suicide are also included and how to recognise when you should seek help to support children or young people in your care.
A series of five short learning bytes have also been created for frontline staff working in health, social care and wider public and other services.
They are designed to help staff to develop their knowledge and practice to promote mental health and tackle inequalities. Learning bytes also aim help staff to support those who are in distress and crisis and/or are at risk of suicide or self-harm. In addition, staff can learn how to aid the recovery and quality of life for people living with mental ill health.
While each one focuses on a different topic, they are all connected with common themes and link back to each other which means they can be completed in any order.
All of the above resources are designed to be used flexibly by individuals, teams, organisations and training providers to meet local learning and development needs and priorities. Accompanying facilitator’s guides can also be found on TURAS. For more, click here.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
