I found the PABBS training to be enlightening, thought provoking and moving. This training and suicide bereavement support should be an integral part of suicide prevention. I have already taken some ideas to my workplace to start making changes to the way we support those bereaved by suicide. Thank you.
House of Commons – Thursday 23 November 2017
One of the most vulnerable communities are those bereaved by suicide. Dr Sharon McDonnell, Director of Suicide Bereavement UK at the University of Manchester and Support After Suicide Partnership are carrying out research into the services available for those bereaved by suicide to prevent future deaths. I’m sending out details for surgeries of honourable members, but could we have a debate on suicide bereavement and its impact on families and friends, but also, will the leader of the house support me in encouraging members to circulate the survey to their constituencies.
PABBS training – Manchester – March 2017
I just wanted to say that until I saw your presentation I was unaware of the lack of training/support that was out there and since seeing you I have now introduced an aspect of suicide bereavement into suicide prevention training in Berkshire. I am very much looking forward to enhancing this training following attending PABBS on the 13th March. I learnt a lot about myself (personally and professionally) and my own uncomfortable feelings regarding suicide bereavement, since meeting you and attending the conference I realise that the stigma surrounding this particular issue is not just professional but society as a whole. However, through the continued education of services and putting the word out there in the public domain this will positively impact these stigmas.
Tweet – February 2017 about PABBS training
Effective and essential training in suicide bereavement - massive skill set gaps in the UK . Highly recommended.
PABBS training – Manchester – January 2017
This event was very well organised and used a range of excellent training materials relevant to general practice. The training challenged me to think carefully about how to deal with suicide and its after effects, but was also a very supportive environment. I learned a great deal from the materials and from talking to colleagues from a range of clinical backgrounds.
Tweet – January 2017
<p>Presenting our draft suicide prevention plan at Trust Board tomorrow, pleased to be promoting @Connectwpeople training and @SJMcDonn PABBS.</p>
Tweet – January 2017 about PABBS training
This is fantastic training. I was so lucky to be in one of the pilot groups. Such essential evidence-based training. Please consider attending.
Suicide Bereavement UK’s International Annual Conference – 2016
Sharon McDonnell has found her calling. She has inspired us to reflect and connect, when she brought us all together to share and learn in Manchester. After 20 years ""in the field"" this was the first time I got to spend a day with so many fellow suicide postvention experts. The conference empowered me to keep my focus and continue to learn. All the way from Germany; thank you very much, dear Sharon.
Suicide Bereavement UK’s International Annual Conference – 2016
As community mental health nurses the suicide of one of our clients is our biggest fear. However, I was not provided with any education on suicide in my nurse training and continuing professional development training on suicide is very scarce. As a result I have been running scared for the last twenty years desperately hoping that my practice would prevent my clients from taking their lives. This is not a healthy way to lead your working life. Through attending the Suicide conference I discovered a whole new world of training, research findings and hope. I felt privileged to hear people's experiences and stories as well as leaving with a better understanding of the area of suicide.
Suicide Bereavement UK’s International Annual Conference – 2016
I had lost my first patient from suicide in the first year of my appointment to my current Consultant Position in 2006. This was an extremely traumatic experience as it had not been foreseen and traditional risk assessment indicators had categorised the risk as low. In dealing with the subsequent inquiry, I became very depressed. Having been actively involved in suicide /self-harm research, I left this for over 8 years. It was only on attending your conference and subsequent training that I realised that this type of 'disenfranchised grief' did not fit the 'normal' profile of grief and that it was common to experience feelings of inadequacy and loss for many years.
Suicide Bereavement UK’s International Annual Conference – 2016
After 20 years in the field this was the first time I got to spend a day with so many fellow suicide postvention experts. The conference empowered me to keep my focus and continue to learn.
PABBS training – Manchester – January 2016
I found the PABBS training compassionate, caring and highly professional. I would strongly recommend it to my medical colleagues. It has been developed jointly with service users, those bereaved by suicide, GPs and Mental Healthcare professionals and this clearly shows in the structure, style and content of training. It has also been thoroughly evaluated and is one of the few evidenced based postvention training that I have come across."" I have been around colleagues who have experienced the suicide of a client and one aspect they have all emphasised is their complete lack of knowledge and understanding of what to do after a suicide on all levels. Attending the PABBS postvention training course has given me the understanding, skills and confidence to care for those bereaved by suicide including myself. Having experienced a recent bereavement by suicide in my personal life, the training and knowledge I have learnt at the conference and the PABBS training has been a real source of comfort, hope and strength with which to look after others and myself.
House of Commons – 2015
We have to look at how we support families, including families of men who die by suicide … How do we support families and communities? For those who wish to understand how we can support those families, I recommend the excellent work of Sharon McDonnell at the University of Manchester.
House of Commons – 2013
The Trust has a Suicide Liaison Officer, Barry McGale, who does not just work well locally, but is globally active and is part of progressive policy-pushing network on the subject. When people spoke about the Derry model, part of what they meant was that suicide liaison service.
House of Commons – 2012
I recommend that the Minister read the work of Dr Sharon McDonnell […] She has researched how health professionals […] interact with bereaved families […] I urge the Minister to discuss not only the changes that she has identified as necessary but how we can move forward and ensure that we change families’ experience.
