| An opportunity for emergency services personnel to increase their knowledge, confidence and skills responding to those affected by suicide. | BOOK NOW |
Background to RTS training
First responders and investigators are often exposed to suicide as well as bereaved families at the scene during their careers. Many report feeling anxious and uncertain how to respond to those bereaved by suicide, due to lack of training. Responding to these incidents can have a direct impact on the mental health and well-being of these personnel.
Responding To Suicide (RTS) training is evidence and practice-based, and informed by the lived-experience of both emergency service personnel and those bereaved by suicide. It provides guidance for staff on how to respond to suicide more effectively, which can be applied in a practical sense.
The training has been designed by a team with a wealth of experience in the emergency services, suicide postvention (care of those bereaved by suicide), and prevention. Several authors have received awards for their work in postvention.
This one-day interactive programme is delivered by facilitators with combined experience in:
- Investigating and responding to suicide and working with bereaved families;
- Working in the field of suicide prevention and postvention (care of those bereaved by suicide).
To view/download the RTS Leaflet RTS Leaflet
To view the RTS testimonials Testimonials
Meaningful Conversation – Emergency services responding to suicide and its impact REPLAY
Aims of the training
- To offer emergency services personnel an opportunity to build knowledge, confidence and skills in responding to and better supporting those bereaved or affected by suicide;
- To understand and take steps to address the personal impact that traumatic events can have on emergency personnel.
Objectives of the training
- To improve staff knowledge and understanding when responding to those bereaved or affected by suicide;
- To outline a person-centred practical response to suicide;
- To explore the effects of exposure to traumatic events;
- To develop a personal plan to reduce the effects of exposure to incidents of suicide;
- To analyse current responses to suicide and consider how to improve support to those bereaved or affected.
Who is RTS training for?
RTS training is aimed at operational emergency services personnel including: ambulance, police, fire, civilian investigators, Air Ambulance, RNLI, Coastguard and MOD Police.
Normally this training is commissioned by an organisation and only delivered in-house. However, we are currently taking individual bookings for police and ambulance staff to attend Responding to Suicide (RTS) evidence-based CPD accredited one day training in Manchester on June 22nd 2023. This face-to-face training will provide an opportunity for police and ambulance staff to learn together. If you would like to book on thei training day, please contact paul.higham@suiciebereavementuk.com or call 07850 710555
We normally ONLY deliver this course in-house upon request for up to 20 individuals.
Authors of the training
Lee Fryatt is a professionally qualified manager and recently retired Police Inspector having worked for over 30 years with Hampshire Constabulary. Lee has first-hand experience of investigating and responding to a range of critical incidents including suicide and understands the challenges that officers face when dealing with those bereaved and/or affected by loss. Lee is also a qualified and experienced police trainer having designed and delivered training programmes at national, regional and local training centres. He has been personally bereaved by suicide and has unique insights into how policing decisions can impact families.
Dr Sharon McDonnell, is Founder and Managing Director of SBUK, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester and personally bereaved by suicide. Dr McDonnell has specialised in suicide bereavement research for over 20 years and has previously translated research findings into suicide bereavement evidence-based training, the first of its kind internationally. Dr McDonnell also led the UK suicide bereavement survey (The Grief to Hope Report), the largest such survey internationally. In addition, Dr McDonnell has conducted several research projects exploring the experiences and needs of emergency services personnel who respond to suicide (Nelson et al 2020).
Barry McGale, is a recently retired, award winning mental health nurse, cognitive behavioural therapist and Suicide Liaison Officer based in Northern Ireland. He developed the first NHS suicide bereavement service in the UK. This model is currently being replicated nationally.
Angela Samata, is an Ambassador for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide and presented the BBC BAFTA nominated documentary ‘Life After Suicide’ which explored the experiences of those bereaved by suicide. She is also co-author of the award-winning Zero Suicide Alliance training, accessed by over 2 million people globally.
To register or enquire about RTS training please contact:
Paul Higham
Email: paul.higham@suicidebereavementuk.com
Mob: 07850 710555 Tel: 01706 827 359
Suicide Bereavement UK terms and conditions
