Specialist training ‘upskills’ practitioners in keeping people safe.

People from across six Highland organisations attended a suicide intervention training course today (on World Suicide Prevention Day - 10 September) that aims to upskill practitioners in keeping someone safe who has expressed suicidal thoughts or behaviours.

Attendees from Mikeysline, NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Change Mental Health, Tykes and University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) were among the representatives at the training course held at Highland Council headquarters in Inverness. The course was facilitated by staff from Highland Council’s Health, Safety & Wellbeing Team and NHS Highlands’s Health Improvement Team at Public Health Scotland.

Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, Cllr David Fraser and Highland Council’s Chief Executive Derek Brown visited the session.

Facilitator, Lynda Thomson, NHS Highland Health Improvement Team; Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, Cllr David Fraser; Highland Council’s Chief Executive Derek Brown and facilitator James McCreath, Highland Council, Health, Safety & Wellbeing Team with attendees.

Cllr Fraser said: “We all know suicide rates in Highland are significantly higher than the Scottish average with men being particularly affected. In Highland we have some really excellent support groups providing support 365 days a year. The Council and NHS Highland are delighted to provide this specialist intervention training to them. I am very pleased to see attendees from key organisations across Highland and would just like to record my thanks for all the work they do.”

This one of three ‘Safe for Now’ courses being provided by Highland Council and NHS Highland over the next three months with two more planned for Tuesday 16 September in Wick and Wednesday 26 November in Inverness.

The course informs attendees on:

• How to ask about suicide.
• Assess the immediate risk of suicide.
• Assist in completing a Safety Action Plan.
• Guide a discussion with someone about the next steps in following their safety plan.

Although initially aimed at staff who work in health and social care, the course is open to other providers who work with people.

For more information or general enquiries email: nhsh.healthimprovementtraining@nhs.scot

Or for an informal discussion about the course please contact: james.mccreath@highland.gov.uk