Public Health

I attended the RTS2 training in my role with Public Health, with 18 years previous experience as a Police Officer. The course was expertly delivered but in a relaxed and engaging way that made the day informative and enjoyable – not something I can usually say, working in the field of suicide prevention. The trainers have a wealth of experience between them, they are natural trainers, using innovative ways to deliver a difficult topic and getting the most out of attendees. I can’t recommend this course enough to anyone who may deal with people who are feeling suicidal. 

The training was welcoming and destigmatised from the offset – we were all encouraged to ask open questions and learn from each other. I work with young people and families who have been bereaved by suicide, and I have also been bereaved by suicide myself. I found it deeply comforting to find out that most people in the training session had also been touched by these unfortunate circumstances. There were many opportunities to share knowledge, build skills and be vulnerable in a safe and professional way. The trainers were incredibly understanding and it made the whole thing so much more meaningful that they shared their lived experience too. Not only did I take many new skills and awareness away from this day, I also learned about support services and local offers that people I work with, can use. I also decided to join one of those services for my own loss, which has been a huge support for me personally. I may not have found that without PABBS and their brilliant training offer.

Angela and Yinka are a real credit to your organisation and the work you all do, thank you so much for one of the best training courses in this field of work.

I just wanted to say what an amazing day Angela and Yinka gave us.  The Major Incident Response Team volunteers provide the county’s primary postvention service and to be able to receive this valuable training really added to building their confidence in being able to sit with, and have compassionate conversations with those bereaved.  The course delivery is very informative and engaging with just the right balance of education and conversation.  Seeing the reality of data really brought the subject home to the volunteers and hopefully if they didn’t already know it they do now, the important role they play in quickly supporting those bereaved.  The volunteers have been emailing me to say how much they loved Angela and Yinka and that whilst they have done lots of training courses, this one will stay will them for many reasons. 

Attending PABBS has made me more aware of my own needs and the needs of others during the bereavement process. The course is thought provoking and very emotive, delivered by amazing people. The PABBS training has made me more confident in supporting those bereaved by suicide.

I found the course “Postvention Assisting those Bereaved By Suicide (PABBS) ONE DAY Training” very informative and good. The course was professional, and it was very encouraging to meet others who work to support relatives and can share experiences and views. Teachers’ experience of insight and interest in the subject was one of the biggest advantages of the course.

I’m currently working on commissioning a new suicide bereavement service in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, and attended the PABBS training in early February 2022.  Initially, my intention was to see for myself how useful this would be for people involved in delivering elements of the service.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, I found it incredibly useful for my own benefit – especially reinforcing my understanding around the evidence of what and who the service needs to support. I’d certainly recommend it for anybody working on developing or delivering a postvention service.

It was a pleasure attending the workshop and getting to know suicide bereavement is taken so seriously, including so many aspects/people associated with it. You and Angela made the workshop extremely absorbing and informative,

“Yesterday [PABBS Training] was amazingly thought provoking”

We commissioned the Postvention: Assisting those Bereaved By Suicide (PABBS) course to find out how useful it is in increasing understanding across organisations supporting those who have been bereaved by suicide.  The feedback we’ve received (all of which has been positive) has demonstrated that it is very valuable to those who provide that important support to people who have been bereaved.