SFA 02 - Suicide First Aid: Understanding Suicide Intervention Reviews

I have been a front line officers for years, dealing with mental health and suicide on a regular basis, on top of that I have been trained in mental health first aid. The objective of this course was to teach us to recognise signs of suicide and how to response, however I have been doing this for years. I have had numerous members of the public tell me they wish to end their life, I have talked people off bridges and been involved in numerous mental health incidents, I don't feel this course is appropriate for experienced police officers, as teaching us how to listen and talk to someone is pretty much what we do everyday. I feel this course would be perfect for new officers prior to deployment. The course content was good, the tutor was good, it just wasn't the right course for me.

It is essential that gambling related causes of suicide are taken into account The material is good apart from that but to take this forward this is essential

very good

I feel this has been helpful and will use this information in my role.

Feel very confident to work in such an area.

A session that was well run with warmth and kindness

I enjoyed the course however, I still feel a bit unsure of how to actually speak to someone in a dangerous situation. It would have been good to have more example conversations, perhaps more videos or role play. Although I appreciate this would be tough I think it would help build confidence and knowledge of how to actually be a suicide first aider. When we all had to 'ask the question' it would have been good if Tess had given each of us a different situation/scenario. It would have been a challenge but a good way to learn. Perhaps this could be done in breakrooms if people are nervous.

I enjoyed the course however, I still feel a bit unsure of how to actually speak to someone in a dangerous situation. It would have been good to have more example conversations, perhaps more videos or role play. Although I appreciate this would be tough I think it would help build confidence and knowledge of how to actually be a suicide first aider. When we all had to 'ask the question' it would have been good if Tess had given each of us a different situation/scenario. It would have been a challenge but a good way to learn. Perhaps this could be done in breakrooms if people are nervous.

Raising awareness function of the course was valuable

This mornings session seemed slow, it is a heavy subject but some form of light heartedness would have kept everyone engaged. This afternoons session seemed very scripted and I will be honest, I got a little lost and started to switch off. I do however completely understand this is the first time for both Jess and Jo to do and being watched by an external trainer must have been very nerve racking. I found some of the content a little too heavy for my liking, my counselling background and my personal nature would be a little less heavy handed. I don't recall choosing to take this course, I was booked on by my manager.