With over 30 years of experience, Storm Skills Training CIC provides high-quality, evidence-based training in suicide and self-harm prevention, including assessment and safety planning. 

Our training is designed to empower individuals and teams with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to explore the root causes of distress, understand its impact, and work towards effective information sharing and safety.

Storm Skills Training Open Courses

We support teams and individuals to build the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to respond well, safely, and compassionately.

We believe suicide prevention is everyone’s business, and our training supports people from all backgrounds, from experienced mental health professionals to people who are new to talking about suicide and self-harm, to respond effectively to someone in distress.

Storm Skills Training in Self-harm and Suicide Prevention is available at three levels - Advanced, Intermediate, and Foundation - designed to reflect the roles and responsibilities of different members of your team. These levels are based on NICE guidance, which outlines training needs for mental health professionals, health and social care staff, and other team members involved in suicide prevention.

Our aim is to make it easier for you to choose the training level that best suits your role or your team’s needs. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we provide clear information and guidance to help you make an informed decision about which course is right for you.

We developed our online open courses to make our high-quality training in self-harm and suicide prevention more accessible, especially for individuals and smaller organisations with just a few team members looking to build their skills.

Whether you work in mental health, primary care, social care, healthcare, education, the prison service, or any other setting, our evidence-based, CPD-accredited training is designed to strengthen your knowledge, skills, and confidence. You'll learn how to support someone in distress using a compassionate, collaborative approach.

These courses are also a great opportunity for those considering commissioning Storm Skills Training to experience the course content and delivery style firsthand.

Please note: Organisations may register up to six individuals within a 12 month period on our open courses. If you have more team members requiring training within this timeframe, we recommend our Direct to Participant training pathway. Please visit our training page for more details. Your place on the course will only be confirmed once the minimum participant numbers have been met. We’ll keep you updated and provide advance notice if the course needs to be rescheduled. 

Our open courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service.

If you are interested in training for a larger team or organisation, please visit our training page for more details or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

Choosing a training package

Storm Skills Training Version 5 (V5) aligns with key national guidance and standards, including:

• • 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

Our training includes: 

• Learning about research, best practice, and lived experience  
• Group discussion - participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights through engaging in discussions on relevant topics related to their work, enhancing their learning experience.  
• Active observation - Watch and provide feedback on a demonstration of the skills in a video  
• Participation in skills practice, including role play (some of which is filmed) and small group activities to practice skills 
• Self-reflection 
• Feedback 
• Collaborative learning in a safe, supportive environment 

Participants leave our courses not only more informed, but also more confident in their ability to respond with compassion and a person-centred approach. 

Training packages:

There are two packages to choose from:

• Adults: Tailored for those working with and supporting adults

• Children and Young Adults (CYA): Tailored for those supporting children and young people up to age 25.

Recommendation: If your role involves working with both children and adults, we recommend the CYA course because it explores the complexities of working with children, which are not addressed in the adult course. The skills learned in the CYA course are transferable to adults, and it also covers all the skills included in the adult course.

Course levels

Our training package has three levels – Advanced, Intermediate, and Foundation. The levels are based on NICE guidance, which refers specifically to mental health professionals, other health and social care, and all other team members. 

We understand that every role is different, and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we provide clear information and guidance to help you choose the training level that best fits your needs — rather than prescribing a specific one.

Before registering, please take a moment to review the course level descriptions carefully. Selecting the level that aligns with your current role and responsibilities will help ensure a positive and productive learning experience for you and your fellow participants.

All times are listed in UK time (GMT/BST). If joining from outside the UK, please check your local time zone. 

Advanced course 

This two-and-a-half or three-day training is designed for mental health professionals and other roles that hold significant responsibility for assessing, formulating, and safety planning with people vulnerable to self-harm and suicide.

This course aligns with NICE Guideline [NG225] on self-harm for mental health professionals. The aim of the advanced level training course is to enhance participants’ existing knowledge and skills in identifying, assessing, and supporting individuals experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Through a combination of observation, skills practice, and filmed skills practice, participants will refine their ability to provide compassionate and person-centred support, including full psychosocial assessments, risk formulations, and personalised safety plans. They will also develop their ability to support individuals through challenges to recovery and teach problem-solving strategies.

Who is the course for?

The Advanced level course is suited to professionals who hold significant responsibility for supporting individuals who are in distress or in crisis, including those vulnerable to self-harm and suicide. The advanced course includes, but is not limited to, those who:

• Work directly with people experiencing mental health challenges* and situational crises, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts
• Conduct full psychosocial assessments to comprehensively evaluate factors influencing an individual’s wellbeing and safety, including drivers of distress
• Work collaboratively with individuals, families, and support networks to develop and implement personalised safety and care plans
• Use personalised risk formulation to inform care plans and/or safety plans, or actively work towards implementing this practice
• Respond to mental health crises and provide ongoing support to individuals in distress
• Play a key role in safeguarding individuals at risk of harm to themselves or others

*While many of these individuals may experience mental health challenges, it’s important to recognise that suicide and self-harm are not always rooted in mental illness alone. They are often complex responses to a range of factors, including trauma, loss, social isolation, financial hardship, and other life stressors. Our training reflects this complexity and supports professionals in responding holistically and compassionately.

It’s important to note that professionals are not expected to fulfil all the responsibilities listed above. We welcome those with diverse backgrounds and roles onto our advanced-level training, regardless of their specific job title or setting, who are committed to deepening their understanding and enhancing their practice in suicide and self-harm prevention.

This course level could be a good fit for:

• Mental health professionals
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Mental health nurses
• Social workers
• Other professionals working with complexity and vulnerability
• Other professionals with responsibility for safeguarding

Course aim

The aim of the advanced level training course is to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in identifying, assessing, and supporting individuals experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Through a combination of observation, skills practice, and filmed skills practice, participants will refine their ability to provide compassionate and collaborative support, including full psychosocial assessments, risk formulations, and personalised safety plans. They will also develop their ability to support individuals through challenges to recovery and teach a problem-solving strategy.

Learning outcomes

Building on existing skills and competencies, this course will enhance participants’ ability to:

• Adopt a compassionate and collaborative approach with a person in distress
• Recognise warning signs and vulnerabilities associated with self-harm and suicide
• Carry out a full psychosocial assessment to evaluate factors that influence individuals’ vulnerability to self-harm and suicide
• Assess drivers of distress, including asking about suicidal thoughts and self-harm
• Effectively engage with family members, carers, and other members of the person’s support network to share and gather relevant information (where consent allows) and to provide support
• Use collaborative formulation to develop a shared understanding of the person’s vulnerabilities and strengths to inform personalised safety and care plans
• Work with the person to develop a personalised safety plan tailored to their needs and circumstances
• Collaboratively review existing care and safety plans, addressing challenges to recovery and making necessary adjustments
• Teach a problem-solving technique to individuals in distress, empowering them to develop practical coping strategies
• Engage in reflective practice, continually evaluating and improving their approach and response to individuals experiencing self-harm and suicide

Course details

• Group size: Maximum of eight
• Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
• Course duration & timings: Three days - 9:15am (for a 9:30am sharp start) to 4:30pm (GMT/BST - UK time)
• Course cost: £630 + VAT per person (£756 including VAT)
• Your place on the course will only be confirmed once the minimum participant numbers have been met. We’ll keep you updated and provide advance notice if the course needs to be rescheduled.

Upcoming course dates

• Adult: 10th - 12th November (3 days) | 9:15am to 4:30pm (UK - GMT) | Limited space available - Register

• Children and Young Adults: New dates to be scheduled soon - Express interest

Intermediate course

Our intermediate level course is available as a two-day course and is suited to a broad range of roles - particularly those in health, social care and wellbeing related fields who have a role to play in helping to prevent suicide and self-harm in the workplace, or work with individuals who at times may express or experience suicidal thoughts or show signs of self-harm. It is also suited to those in roles and or settings where the team member has some responsibility for the wellbeing of individuals, this may be line management, human resources, or wellbeing.

This course supports participants to actively engage with individuals in distress and their support networks to promote safety, connection, and hope. This course aligns with NICE Guideline [NG225] on self-harm for healthcare professionals and social care practitioners. Through a combination of observation, skills practice, and filmed skills practice, participants will develop practical, evidence-based strategies for providing person-centred, compassionate support, including developing personalised safety plans and facilitating access to specialist support.

Who is the course for?

Our Intermediate level course is suited to a broad range of roles and professionals. This includes, but is not limited to, those who:

• Work with individuals who at times experience high levels of stress and distress
• Work with individuals who at times may express or experience suicidal thoughts or show signs of self-harm
• Have a role to play in assessing and safety planning to help prevent suicide and self-harm at work
• Provide initial or ongoing care and support
• May interact with individuals’ support networks, such as family members or carers
• May address physical injuries, including those resulting from self-harm, within their professional capacity

It’s important to note that professionals are not expected to fulfil all the responsibilities listed above. We welcome those with diverse backgrounds and roles onto our intermediate level training, regardless of their specific job title or setting.

This course level could be a good fit for:

• Healthcare professionals (e.g., GPs, nurses, pharmacists)
• Professionals in psychological therapies (e.g., counsellors, psychotherapists, CBT therapists)
• Social workers
• Criminal justice professionals
• Community support workers and case managers
• Youth workers and mentors
• School wellbeing and safeguarding staff (e.g., Designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Pastoral Care staff, SENCOs)
• Crisis support workers
• Rehabilitation counsellors and addiction specialists
• HR professionals and wellbeing leads
• Senior leaders and line managers
• Third-sector workers, including volunteers

Course aim

The aim of the intermediate level course is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to confidently identify, assess, and support individuals at risk of self-harm or suicide. Through a combination of observation, skills practice, and filmed skills practice, participants will develop practical, evidence-based strategies for providing compassionate support, including developing personalised safety plans and facilitating access to specialist support where needed.

Learning outcomes

Building on existing skills and competencies, this course will enhance participants’ ability to: 

• Adopt a compassionate and collaborative approach with a person in distress
• Recognise warning signs and vulnerabilities associated with self-harm and suicide
• Further explore signs of distress, including asking about suicidal thoughts and self-harm
• Conduct a collaborative assessment, gathering essential information about the person’s immediate needs in relation to self-harm and suicide
• Engage with family members, carers, and other members of the person’s support network to gather and share relevant information (where consent allows)
• Work with the person to develop a personalised safety plan tailored to their needs and circumstances
• Recognise the scope of their role and understand when to facilitate referrals to specialist mental health services for further assessment and intervention
• Engage in reflective practice, continually evaluating and improving approach and response to individuals experiencing self-harm and suicide

Course details

• Group size: Maximum of eight
• Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
• Course duration & timings: Two days - 9:15am (for a 9:30am sharp start) to 4:30pm (GMT/BST - UK time)
• Cost: £465 plus VAT per person (£558 including VAT)
• Your place on the course will only be confirmed once the minimum participant numbers have been met. We’ll keep you updated and provide advance notice if the course needs to be rescheduled. 

Upcoming course dates

• Adult: 9th - 10th March 2027 (2 days) | 9:15am to 4:30pm (UK - GMT) | Register
• Children & Young Adults: 9th - 10th February 2027 (2 days) | 9:15am to 4:30pm (UK - GMT) | Register

Foundation course

Our foundation level course is available as a one-day course. It is designed for people who are new to talking about suicide and self-harm. It is particularly suited to people working outside of health and social care who want to grow their understanding and confidence in responding to someone who may be vulnerable to suicide and or self-harm. The course covers the foundation knowledge and skills to respond and work towards safety with someone in distress and aligns with NICE Guideline [NG225] on self-harm for professionals from other sectors.

Our foundation-level courses are suited to a broad range of roles. This includes, but is not limited to, 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

We welcome those with diverse backgrounds and roles onto our foundation-level training, regardless of their specific job title or setting.

Who is the course for?

Our foundation-level course is suited to a broad range of roles. This includes, but is not limited to, 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

We welcome those with diverse backgrounds and roles onto our foundation-level training, regardless of their specific job title or setting.

This course level could be a good fit for:

• Teachers, lecturers and other non-well-being roles within education settings.
• Law enforcement - police officers, probation officers, prison staff
• Customer-facing roles - Call centre staff, job centre advisors, housing officers, debt and financial advisors
• Construction and manual trades - Site managers and supervisors
• HR and health & safety officers and union representatives
• Line managers and team leaders across all sectors – particularly those in more vulnerable industries, including construction, manual labour, health, and social care.
• Administrative or supportive roles working with those vulnerable to suicide and self-harm – health, social care, and addictions etc.

Course aim

The aim of the foundation course is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to:

• Notice warning signs and vulnerabilities associated with self-harm and suicide
• Listen compassionately,
• Recognise when and how to ask about suicide and self-harm.

Through a combination of observation and focused skills practice, participants will develop practical, evidence-based strategies for providing compassionate support, including working towards safety, sharing information for safety, and handing over for additional support.

Learning outcomes

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.

Course details

• Group size: Maximum of eight
• Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
• Course duration & timings: One day - 9:15am (for a 9:30am sharp start) to 4:30pm (GMT/BST - UK time)
• Cost: £260 plus VAT per person (£312 including VAT)
• Your place on the course will only be confirmed once the minimum participant numbers have been met. We’ll keep you updated and provide advance notice if the course needs to be rescheduled.

Upcoming course dates

• More dates to be scheduled in 2027. You can still commission this level for your organisation with our in-house training model (minimum of 4 participants, maximum of 8). Please send us an email if you're interested in learning more. We'd love to hear from you.

Emotional safety

For learning purposes, our training contains emotive topics - including suicide, self-harm, and other areas that may lead to distress (for example domestic violence, financial issues, and fertility issues). These topics can impact some participants, and sometimes this can be unexpected. 

We acknowledge that the Storm Skills Training learning model can push people outside their comfort zone. We know our training is effective, but it is an intensive course and can be exhausting. If you have any concerns about the learning model, please get in touch.

On the day, our team will work with you and others in the group towards: 

• Creating a safe and supportive learning environment 
• Encouraging your participation and development 

We are always mindful of and responsive to the emotional safety of participants during the course but, we ask that before you register for the training you consider:  

• Your own emotional health, particularly if you have recently been impacted either professionally or personally by suicide, self-harm and other related topics.  
• What you would do if you were emotionally impacted or affected before, during or after the course, and who you would contact for support 

Now may not be the right time to attend the course, and that’s okay – there will be future courses when you’re ready. We understand circumstances change – if you have registered for the course and no longer feel it is the right time for you, please let us know. 

What customers say about our training: