Minding Minds

We spend a large proportion of the MHFA England training discussing prevention and support for people who are suicidal and encourage organisations to implement preventative measures, and to ensure their policies and procedures are fit for purpose.

We also promote events (such as World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 10th ) on our social media platform.

How does your organisation contribute to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it?

In our training sessions before we start to look at suicide prevention and information we give the trainees ‘permission’ to leave the session there and then or to leave the session at any point. We probably have one person per group of 16 leave the session or approach us afterwards because they have been affected by suicide themselves. We support them and guide them towards resources to support them

In addition, obviously a large amount of the MHFA course is looking at Depression and the potential for suicide and also how to deal with suicidal crisis situation.

What are your current priorities?

To continue to improve the understanding around suicide and challenge the ‘man up’ culture that contributes to the abnormally high male suicide rates in the UK, where 75% of all suicides are males.

What challenges are you currently facing?

To break through the barriers in the corporate world. Stress and anxiety are happily discussed at work and solutions found for them, but suicide is an uncomfortable subject for workplaces to take on board, however some companies have already been touched by employee suicide and are willing to discuss the subject more openly.