Suicide Prevention in Schools: Training for school staff to meet the new Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) Guidance
In July 2025, the Department for Education released updated statutory guidance for (RSHE) in England.
You may also hear this referred to as PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education). Set to take effect in September 2026, this update gives schools time to reflect, prepare, and plan for effective implementation.
"At Storm Skills Training, our mission is to ensure that teaching colleagues and support staff feel confident, safe, and supported when engaging in conversations with students about suicide and self-harm. When teams are equipped with the right skills and evidence-based approaches, they can make a real difference in preventing harm to young people. We're here to help you do just that."
— Bianca Romanyk, CEO, Storm Skills Training CIC
Our training is designed for adults working in education settings, we do not provide suicide prevention training directly to pupils.
Before reading the blog:
This report mentions topics related to self-harm and suicide which may potentially lead to distress. Before you read the guidance, check in with yourself. How are you feeling today? If you were negatively impacted or affected, who would you contact for support? Support is available from Samaritans, for free, 24/7. Phone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.uk.
Preparing for the new RSHE Guidance: A closer look at suicide prevention and staff training needs
The updated RSHE guidance places greater emphasis on holistic mental health, starting in primary school and continuing through secondary education.
It encourages a whole-school approach to mental health, recognising that every member of the school community plays a role in creating a safe and supportive environment.
Suicide prevention, self-harm, and related topics - Training requirements highlighted in the RHSE Guidance:
“Secondary schools should have a plan for addressing suicide prevention safely, including ensuring that staff have the knowledge and skills to do so.”
“Secondary schools may also choose to teach about issues which are not listed in the secondary curriculum content. This includes topics such as eating disorders and self-harm.”
“Schools should consult mental health professionals and put in place high quality, evidence-based staff training before addressing suicide directly with secondary aged pupils, to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to do this safely”
“Schools may consider accessing support from the NHS or local specialist services who may be able to provide advice and CPD for teachers.”
Supporting pupils safely: Common questions about suicide prevention from school teams
As schools begin preparing for the updated RSHE guidance, it’s understandable that staff may have questions:
- How do we talk about suicide safely with pupils?
- How can we ensure our staff feel confident and supported to speak about suicide and self-harm?
- What should we do if a student discloses something concerning?
- How do we recognise the signs of suicidal thoughts or self-harm in young people?
- What training is available to help us meet the new RSHE expectations?
- What kind of whole-school approach can help reduce risk and build resilience?
These are the kinds of questions we regularly hear from those working in education settings. Over the years, we’ve supported many school teams across the UK (and even as far as Australia!) to feel prepared, supported, and equipped to meet the needs of their pupils. With the introduction of the new guidance, these questions are likely to be front and centre for schools across England.
At Storm Skills Training, we’ve worked with professionals across the education sector - from teachers, school counsellors, nurses, and pastoral care staff to safeguarding leads, leadership teams, and school administrative staff. Each of these roles plays a vital part in creating a safe and supportive environment for pupils.
We understand the pressures schools face, and we know that the thought of starting conversations about self-harm and suicide prevention might feel daunting at first, but that’s where Storm Skills Training is here to help.
How Storm Skills Training supports school teams
We have over 30 years of experience developing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based suicide and self-harm assessment training.
We’ve worked with professionals across the education sector - from teachers and school counsellors to safeguarding leads and administrative staff. Each role plays a vital part in creating a safe and supportive environment for pupils.
We understand the pressures schools face, and we know that starting conversations about self-harm and suicide prevention can feel daunting at first. That’s where Storm Skills Training can help. We’ve even done some research about our training’s effectiveness in schools and higher education (learn more about that below).
Our approach
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 in our Intermediate and advanced level courses are 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.
We recognise that not all staff working in schools will need the same level of training, so we offer three course levels - Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced - to suit the different roles and responsibilities of your team.
Tailored training package for people working with children and young adults
For each of our course levels - Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced - we offer a Children and Young Adults (CYA) package, specifically designed for professionals working with children and young people up to the age of 25.
The CYA package is tailored to reflect the unique challenges and needs of young people.
Our courses are designed to help individuals and teams strengthen their skills in engagement, holistic assessment, formulation, and personalised safety planning. We focus on meaningful conversations, ensuring participants gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to explore the root causes of distress, understand its impact, and work towards effective information sharing.
Version 5 of our training package incorporates the latest research, evidence, best practices, and lived experience insights, and aligns with:
- NICE Guideline NG225 (Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence)
- Health Education England Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Competence Framework
- NHS England Staying Safe from Suicide Guidance
- BS 30480: Suicide and the workplace by the UK’s national standards body, BSI
This ensures that your team is not only meeting the expectations of the updated RSHE Guidance, but also 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.
Who in education can benefit from our training?
Our training is suitable for everyone working in schools – we all have a role to play in suicide prevention. This includes:
• Teachers (Primary, Secondary, Further Education, Special Education)
• School Counsellors
• Educational Psychologists
• Pastoral Care Staff
• Teaching Assistants
• Learning Support Assistants
• School Nurses
• Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)
• Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams
• College and University Lecturers
• Student Welfare Officers
• SEND Coordinators (SENCOs)
• School Administrative Staff (including Receptionists, Office Managers, and Attendance Officers)
Evidence of our training’s impact in schools
The effectiveness of Storm Skills Training has been explored in peer-reviewed research for over 20 years, across a range of settings and using a variety of methodologies.
This includes professionals from physical and mental healthcare, secondary and higher education, the voluntary sector, and the prison service. We are confident about our training package because research shows that it makes a significant difference: improving the skills, attitudes, and confidence of frontline team members in lots of different settings, from schools and prisons to frontline mental health teams.
Satisfaction scores for Storm Skills Training are generally very high. Across multiple studies in various settings – including prisons, healthcare, Australian secondary schools, and British universities – the majority of participants have indicated that they found the training content useful and relevant to their everyday practice.
There is good evidence that our training packages in suicide and self-harm prevention improve skills, confidence, attitudes and knowledge in frontline workers.
Secondary Education (Australia)
One study has tested the impact of Storm Skills Training on staff members from 29 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. The training package, delivered over a two-day period, was adapted to focus on suicide and self-harm in young people. Confidence, perceived skills, knowledge, and attitudes were assessed immediately pre-training, immediately post-training, and eight weeks later. Skills acquisition was tested immediately pre-training and post-training via filmed role plays.
Results indicated that practitioners' confidence, perceived ability, and knowledge all improved. Role play assessment, using pre-training and post-training films, showed that participants’ overall suicide risk assessment scores improved significantly.
Robinson, J., Green, G., Spittal, M., Templer, K., & Bailey, E. (2016). Impact and acceptability of delivering skills-based training on risk management. (STORM) in Australian secondary schools. Health Behaviour and Policy Review, 3(3), 259-268. https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.3.3.7
Higher Education (UK)
Another pilot study was conducted to assess the impact of Storm Skills Training on 20 members of staff at a British university. As with the other pilot studies, the package was adapted for the setting: it covered two modules rather than four and was more generic in focus (rather than specific to healthcare settings). Skills, attitudes, and confidence were measured immediately pre-training and then repeated immediately post-training, along with a satisfaction questionnaire. Three months later at follow-up, attitudes and confidence were assessed again.
Participants showed significant improvements on three skills immediately post-training: “asking about alcohol”, “exploring suicidal thoughts”, and “exploring specific plans”. There was also an overall reduction in negative attitudes, and on two out of 14 items, these changes were statistically significant. Confidence increased significantly immediately post-training and this change was maintained at follow-up. The majority of training participants (80%) found the role play exercises useful.
Gask, L., Coupe, N., McElvenny, D., & Green, G. (2017). Pilot study evaluation of suicide prevention gatekeeper training utilising STORM in a British university setting. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 45(6), 593-605. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2017.1335391
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.
The model includes opportunities for your team to:
- Participate in a group discussion
- Learn about research, best practice, and lived experience
- Watch and feedback on a demonstration of the skills in a video
- Participate in skills practice (some of these are filmed) – including small group self-reflection and feedback
- Whole group film playback – including self-reflection and group feedback
Preparing for RHSE in 2026: Training actions schools can take now
With the updated RSHE guidance coming into effect in September 2026, now is the time for schools to begin preparing.
Whether you're just starting to explore what the new RSHE guidance means for your school, looking to strengthen your team’s approach, or seeking training to support your own professional development, we’re here to help you find the right fit.
Don't just take our word for it - hear what others are saying about V5 - view feedback.
RHSE Training checklist
✔ Identify training needs across your team: Consider the different roles within your school and what level of training each may require, and delivery options that suit your team’s needs
✔ Engage with external providers for “high quality, evidence-based staff training” in line with the guidance
✔ Support staff emotionally as they prepare to deliver sensitive content: Ensure staff feel safe, confident, and supported to engage in conversations around suicide and self-harm.
✔ Talk to the Storm Skills Training team about how we can help - send us an email we would love to hear from you.
What customers say about our training:
“I found this course really valuable. I would definitely recommend it. I will be able to use the skills immediately in my work. The person-centred, compassionate approach is very much in keeping with my day to day practice. Specifically, I now feel more confident working with and supporting clients experiencing SH and SI. I now have a clear framework to work from....
“I found this course very useful. I would highly recommend it to colleagues. I would encourage anyone working with young people who are experiencing self-harm or suicidal ideation to complete this training.”
“The course was excellent. Bianca was extremely supportive of me personally in the delivery of this course. I learnt so many strategies and techniques which I fully will use in my professional role to support individuals and their families. The course was sensitively delivered. The topic is a very hard area to talk about, and of course train others in, but I felt fully supported and felt through her excellent facilitation, that my experience and skills were valued. I would...
"I would recommend this training to other organisations I have personally worked with. I found the facilitators to be very honest, respectful, and compassionate. I have come away from the training more confident in asking those difficult questions about suicide or self-harm while helping someone in distress. This training provided insight into the lived experience of practitioners, which created evidence that the skills used with a young person provide a safe place for a conversation. I plan to incorporate this training into my work, asking the ...
Let’s work together to build safer school communities
The new RSHE guidance is a step forward in building emotionally resilient schools. But implementation takes planning, support, and the right tools.
Storm Skills Training is ready to partner with you to improve your team's skills, build confidence, and support you to make sure every member of your team feels safe and supported when having conversations about self-harm and suicide with pupils.
We would love to hear from you – please reach out to our team by emailing enquiries@stormskillstraining.com or call us on +44 (0) 3030 033189.
In the UK:
Samaritans
Phone: 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) | jo@samaritans.org | samaritans.org
International:
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
findahelpline.com/i/iasp
If you are looking to enhance your skills in self-harm and suicide prevention, please reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you.
