Free training to support conversations about mental health and suicide prevention
If you come into contact with people in distress, these free learning opportunities will help you to develop your skills and confidence to have conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.
Suicide awareness for professionals
This popular course is free for anyone working or volunteering in Stockport and no prior experience is necessary. The course:
- develops understanding and compassion
- tackles myths, stigma, and barriers
- introduces the concept that suicide is not inevitable and includes the latest research and evidence on how people can be helped
- helps people understand how distress develops and how people can be best supported
- develops common language between the community, services and those in distress
- gives people the confidence and the skills practice of talking to someone in distress
- develops a compassionate approach for demanding and time-pressured environments
- equips people with the knowledge of how to make their own safety plan using the Staying Safe website
All courses take place on Zoom and need to be booked in advance. New dates are added every month.
To check dates, availability and book your place, use the online booking form.
For more information, email info.wellbeing@stockport.gov.uk.
Samaritans online advice
The Samaritans website offers very useful reading on what anyone can do if worried about someone else. The topics include:
Zero Suicide Alliance suicide awareness training
This free 30-minute online course is aimed at anyone aged 16 and over who wants to know what to do if they’re ever in a situation where someone they know or see may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.
The course includes coached scenarios sharing approaches for how you can talk to someone you’re worried about.
This training is available on the Zero Suicide Alliance website.
MindEd Hub free online training
MindEd offers free online training around suicide and self-harm prevention for people working with adults and children.
This training is available on the MindEd website.
Stockport Council employees
If you're an employee of Stockport Council, you can access e-learning on Learning Pool.
Suicide Prevention aims to help you recognise when a friend, family member or colleague is struggling with their mental health.
Self-Harm helps you to develop an understanding of the issues faced by self-harmers, and what you can do to help them. Self-harm is an extremely complex issue, both for those who self-harm and the professionals who support them. It affects both children and adults.
Healthy Minds Greater Manchester
Healthy Minds Greater Manchester is a free mental health and wellbeing online course available to residents in Stockport.
The 1 hour online course encourages you to take a proactive approach to caring for your mental health and wellbeing. There is no need to register, and you can access the course on the Royal Society for Public Health’s website.