Training

Mindstep provides suicide prevention training for individuals and organisations.

Our evidence-based courses give participants the practical skills and confidence to recognise risk, provide support and take effective action when it matters most. We provide:

Find out more about our training courses below. For more information and upcoming dates, please get in touch.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

ASIST is a two-day in-person interactive workshop in suicide first aid.

The course teaches participants to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

Studies show that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings in those at risk and is a cost-effective way to help address the problem of suicide.

    • Understand reasons for suicidal thoughts and influential factors

    • Become more suicide alert and recognising people asking for help

    • Practice providing guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk

    • Learn key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and how to implement it effectively

    • Understand the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community

    • Explore community resources and learn how to connect people with support networks

    • Recognise other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care

    • Participants receive a 20-page workbook, wallet card, and stickers as well as a certificate upon successful completion

  • If you are an organisation, having a trained suicide first aider on your staff can be a lifesaver, both literally and figuratively. In times of crisis they can provide crucial support, empathy and intervention, helping colleagues navigate their darkets moments.

    By investing in this vital skillset, your organisation demonstrates a commitment to employee wellbeing, fostering a compassionate and supportive workplace culture.

    We offer discounts for organisations sending more than one individual for ASIST training. Contact us at info@mindstepfoundation.com for further details.

  • ASIST is available to anyone over the age of 16 years who want to help keep the people around them safe from suicide.

    Evidence tells us family, friends and coworkers are the people best placed to notice when someone is having thoughts of suicide, and to provide support and refer them on to crisis services.

    However, research also indicates that suicide-related knowledge and confidence to intervene, is really lacking in the community.

    ASIST empowers individuals with the knowledge and confidence they need to intervene through our skills training.

  • “A thought provoking and an exceptionally worthwhile course, it has equipped us with essential skills to support our young people when they may be struggling.” - Deputy Head

    "Before the training I was too scared to try and help someone who felt suicidal but now I feel more confident in the tools I have." - Counsellor

    "A very heavy subject, but an extremely enjoyable course. Jo and Alex were very well informed, and the delivery was flawless." - Counsellor

Cost £175 per person

Duration 2 days

Delivery In-person

Location Newport, South Wales

Participants Min. 16 per group

Awarding Body LivingWorks International

Register interest

Suicide First Aid

The Suicide First Aid through Understanding Suicide Intervention (SFAUSI) course gives learners the knowledge and tools to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths and some basic skills can help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe from their thoughts and stay alive.

Teaching the theory and practise of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting, captured in a one-day event accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).

We use only the most experienced suicide prevention trainers to deliver this unique learning experience: for anyone who seeks greater understanding and confidence to intervene with people at risk of suicide.

  • Course content:

    SFAUSI is comprised of 4 parts, each 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches and practices the skills and knowledge needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and competently intervene to help create suicide- safety as a first aid approach.

    Part 1 - 09:30 to 11:00

    • Introduction to: the day; programme; ourselves and suicide prevention

    • Stigma, Survivors of bereavement by suicide and the Hidden Toll

    • Suicide thoughts and suicide behaviour

    • Intention of behaviour Versus Outcome of behaviour

    • Possible Causes of Suicidal thoughts

    Part 2 - 11:15 to 12:45

    • Suicide – the Ripple Effect

    • Population-based approach to suicide prevention

    • Partnership working

    • Working with attitudes and values

    • “I’m so glad you told me” - Audio visual

    Part 3 - 13:30 to 14:45

    • Meeting the needs of a person who is thinking about suicide

    • Suicide-Safety Guide

    • Step 1 – Recognising suicide and asking about suicide

    • Step 2 – Understanding options

    Part 4 - 15:00 to 16:30

    • Step 3 – Safeguarding suicide

    • Suicide-safety and self-care

    • The risk assessment approach

    • Suicide and suicide gestures

    • Future learning

    Methods of delivery:

    Taught over 6 hours using tutor facilitated Socratic learning, tutor-led practise session, mini lectures, group work and audio-visual presentations. This is a highly interactive and emotionally engaging learning experience.

    Pre-training requirement:

    No previous experience or training is necessary. Participants will be asked to self- reflect and empathise with a person having thoughts of suicide. There is no expectation on participants to share personal experiences.

  • If you are an organisation, having a trained suicide first aider on your staff can be a lifesaver, both literally and figuratively. In times of crisis they can provide crucial support, empathy and intervention, helping colleagues navigate their darkest moments.

    By investing in this vital skillset, your organisation demonstrates a commitment to employee wellbeing, fostering a compassionate and supportive workplace culture.

    This course is open to all organisations. It is particularly suited to multi-sector managers and practitioners including health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, call centre operators, private, voluntary and public sector workers and community groups or members.

    We offer discounts for organisations. Contact us at info@mindstepfoundation.com for further details.

  • This course is open to anyone in a position to support individuals with thoughts of suicide, including healthcare providers, educators, HR managers, community leaders, and social workers. No prior experience in mental health or suicide prevention is required.

    If you are an individual participant, you will need to join one of our group trainings.

    Get in touch at info@mindstepfoundation.com and we can provide our upcoming dates.

Cost £140 per person

Duration 1 day

Delivery Online or in-person

Participants Minimum 6. Maximum 16 per group

Awarding Body Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH)

Participants can choose to register for the RSPH Level 4 award in Suicide First Aid® learning assignment for an additional fee of £95 per person. This involves completion of a written assignment.

Register interest

Suicide First Aid Lite

For those seeking an introductory course, Suicide First Aid Lite focuses on recognising warning signs, understanding suicide, and signposting to help, as opposed to the full-day SFA course (above) which is aimed at directly intervening and creating safety plans for those who are suicidal.

Teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting, this programme is delivered over 3.5 hours as a suicide prevention awareness session.

  • Course content:

    SFA Lite is comprised of 2 parts, each 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches the skills needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and to pass the person onto a Suicide First Aider.

    Part 1 – 90 minutes

    • Introduction to the session; programme, ourselves and suicide prevention

    • Stigma and survivors of bereavement by suicide and the Hidden Toll

    • Suicide thoughts and suicide behaviour

    • Intention of behaviour versus outcome of behaviour

    • Possible causes of suicide thoughts

    • Suicide – the ripple effect

    • Break

    Part 2 – 90 minutes

    • ‘I’m really glad you told me’ audio visual

    • Suicide Safety Guidance

    • Recognising and asking about suicide

    • Referring a person onto Suicide First Aiders

    Suicide First Aid Lite training offers learning outcomes that are knowledge based and factual. This training can be used as a stand-alone programme or as the first part of a journey to learn suicide prevention skills.

    The one-day programme Suicide First Aid through Understanding Suicide Interventions is a City & Guilds qualification programme and the next step for people wanting a more in-depth practise-based approach to the learning. The information in SFAL is easy to grasp for people of all skill levels and those with no prior knowledge of the subject. It is designed to meet the needs of virtual groups and could be used as a forerunner to the one-day Suicide First Aid Programme.

    Evidence Base:

    Two independent evaluations in 2016 and 2017 by Dr Paul Rogers demonstrated significant statistical change in 14 of 19 measures. Increased confidence and reduced anxiety in dealing with suicide, were among the leading outcomes.

    Methods of delivery:

    Taught over 3 hours using tutor facilitated socratic learning, tutor-led practise sessions, mini lectures, group work and audio-visual presentations. This is a has some interactive elements and is an emotionally engaging learning experience.

    Pre-training requirement:

    No previous experience or training is necessary. Participants will be asked to self- reflect and empathise with a person having thoughts of suicide. There is no expectation on participants to share personal experiences.

  • The course is open to all organisations. It is particularly suited to multi-sector managers and practitioners including health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, call centre operators, private, voluntary and public sector workers and community groups or members.

    It is designed to meet the needs of virtual groups and could be used as a forerunner to the one-day Suicide First Aid Programme.

    We offer discounts for organisations. Contact us at info@mindstepfoundation.com for further details.

  • This course is open to anyone in a position to support individuals with thoughts of suicide, including healthcare providers, educators, HR managers, community leaders, and social workers. No prior experience in mental health or suicide prevention is required.

    If you are an individual participant, you will need to join one of our group trainings.

    Get in touch at info@mindstepfoundation.com and we can provide our upcoming dates.

Cost £55 per person

Duration Half Day

Delivery Online or in-person

Participants Minimum 6. Maximum 20 per group

Awarding Body City & Guilds

Register interest

  • "It was a thought provoking and an exceptionally worthwhile course, which has equipped us with essential skills to support our young people when they may be struggling."

    Deputy Head

  • "Really helped – professionally and personally. An amazing course."

    Counsellor

  • "I have been fortunate to have been on a few good courses where I feel I have learned something useful, but this was in an entirely different league and has definitely equipped me with the tools to be able to do something positive that might just help somebody in need snatch back some much-needed time to start to see different choices."

    Teacher

  • "Before the training I was too scared to try and help someone who felt suicidal but now I feel more confident in the tools I have."

    Counsellor

  • "I cannot recommend this training highly enough and I know this sentiment is echoed by colleagues with whom I trained."

    Testimonial

  • "A very heavy subject, but an extremely enjoyable course. Jo and Alex were very well informed, and the delivery was flawless."

    Counsellor

  • "Excellent, practical, thought-provoking course. Definitely develops tools which are proactive. Better than courses in which you are ‘talked at'."

    Teacher

  • "Other courses I had done were long and frankly boring. This course was breath of fresh air. An engaging and informative workshop that kept me glued to my seat."

    Boarding House Matron