Introducing our Foundation Level Skills Training in Self-harm and Suicide Prevention

At Storm Skills Training CIC, we believe that everyone has a role to play. That’s why we’ve developed our Foundation-Level Course in Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention, a one-day training designed primarily for professionals working outside of health and social care, though it can also be relevant for those within these settings.

Suicide prevention is increasingly recognised as a responsibility shared across all workplaces. With the upcoming release* of British Standard BS 30480: Suicide and the Workplace – Intervention, Prevention and Support for People Affected by Suicide, the UK’s first workplace standard on suicide awareness and prevention, there’s a renewed focus on how organisations can support staff and respond to distress. We look forward to keeping you updated on its release, scheduled for November. * Since the time of posting this blog, BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace has now been released.

While our history and origin stem from the specialist area of mental health and suicide prevention, our newest course, Skills Training in Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Foundation Level, brings our expertise to new audiences. The course is designed for people with little or no formal experience in suicide prevention and offers practical, accessible skills to help anyone feel more confident in supporting someone in distress. Whether you work in HR, management, education, law enforcement, construction or customer service, this level of training is relevant to you. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and this course helps make that responsibility feel achievable.

Who is this course for?

This level is suited to a broad range of roles and professionals, including those who:

• Want to understand and grow their confidence in responding to someone experiencing distress
• Work in an organisation or team where everyone has a role in helping prevent suicide and self-harm
• Have little or no job-related responsibility for assessing and working toward safety with individuals
• Want to increase their knowledge and understanding of what helps when someone is vulnerable to self-harming or suicide

What you'll learn

Course aim:

Building on existing skills and competencies, by the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Reflect on attitudes and beliefs that exist about suicide and self-harm
• Build a foundational understanding of suicide and self-harm
• Recognise warning signs and vulnerabilities associated with self-harm and suicide
• Build skills in compassionately exploring what’s happening for the person, acknowledging and building hope
• Recognise when and how to ask about suicide and self-harm
• Recognise their role in suicide and self-harm prevention, relevant to their role and professional boundaries
• Collaboratively support and guide the person to access help (which may include handing over, signposting, and sharing information for safety)
• Talk with the person about interventions that help, including assessment and safety planning.

At Storm Skills Training, we have over three decades of experience developing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based suicide and self-harm assessment training.

As you may guess from our name, our focus is very much on skills – the practical side of self-harm and suicide prevention. What to say and how to say it (and even a little bit of what not to say).

Our training goes beyond theory - over 50% of course time is dedicated to skills development, including active observation, skills practice, self-reflection, and feedback.

We believe building confidence is just as vital as gaining knowledge. You’ll leave a Storm Skills Training course not only more informed, but also more confident in your ability to respond with compassion and a person-centred approach.

This ensures that you and your team is working in line with standards and best practice for self-harm and suicide prevention. 

Flexible delivery options

We offer training in-person, online, and sometimes a blended delivery. Options include:

• Train the Facilitator (TTF) Model – Ideal for larger teams (50+), this cascade model includes facilitator training and ongoing support. 

• Direct to Participant (Small Group Model) – For smaller teams or where releasing staff is challenging. Delivered by our consultants directly to your team in groups of four to eight participants. 

• Online Open Courses – For individuals or small teams not currently working with Storm Skills Training. Limited to six participants per organisation in a 12 month period.

A practical, skills-based approach that builds confidence

The applied nature of our course is what participants often say they enjoy most about our courses. This practical approach to training is what the evidence demonstrates is effective in increasing skills, confidence, and knowledge; it is the foundation of the Storm Skills Training learning model.

What our customers say about our training:

Let’s work together

If you are looking to enhance your team's skills in self-harm and suicide prevention, we would love to hear from you – please reach out to our team by emailing enquiries@stormskillstraining.com or call us on +44 (0)748 7494 353.