Mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention training

Building skills and knowledge

Public Health Devon is committed to supporting initiatives that promote ‘better mental health for all’ across the county – promoting positive mental wellbeing and building resilience, challenging stigma around poor mental health and suicide, and creating opportunities for earlier intervention and support for those who may be at greater risk of poorer mental health.

An important part of the change needed to achieve this is upskilling individuals, communities and workforces to build both knowledge and confidence in having conversations with others about mental health and wellbeing, as well as looking after our own mental wellbeing.

What is available in Devon?

In Devon we encourage anyone interested in suicide prevention to complete the free Zero Suicide Alliance suicide awareness e-learning.

It provides a great introduction to suicide awareness along with key skills to use to have a conversation with someone you are worried about. There are also specific modules that focus on supporting particular groups, for example, veterans, or for certain workforces, for example, taxi drivers.

Public Health Devon fund evidence based training that is currently available to attend free of charge: Connect 5, and ASIST.

Connect 5

Connect 5 takes a preventative approach to poor mental wellbeing. The training will equip individuals with the skills and confidence to have effective conversations about mental wellbeing, recognising needs and signposting to support. It focuses on building confidence and knowledge to support both personal wellbeing and that of others.

Connect 5 is delivered across three modules, each one building on the previous module – delegates can attend one, two or three modules depending on need. In person and online delivery is available.

Connect 5 will be of particular interest and benefit to those who have public facing roles, or regularly have contact with people experiencing or at risk of poor mental wellbeing.

Youth Connect 5

A new course available in Devon, Youth Connect 5 training provides the knowledge, skills and understanding to help children and young people develop strong emotional wellbeing through resilience-building techniques, whilst understanding why we feel the way we do.

These techniques will strengthen the ability of children and young people to adapt well to adversity, trauma, and stress, skills that will remain with them into adulthood.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

ASIST gives participants the skills to recognise when someone may be thinking about suicide, how to provide a skilled intervention, and develop a safety plan with the person to connect them to further support.

ASIST is a practical two day interactive course, delivered in person only.

ASIST training will be of particular interest to those who frequently encounter and support people in distress.

For enquiries or to book a place on Connect 5 or ASIST, please contact Pete’s Dragons.

Suicide awareness workshops

Public Mental Health or Suicide Prevention leads in the Public Health team can facilitate suicide awareness sessions for groups or workforces.

This is not training, but an opportunity to learn about key messages in promoting mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, including:

  • suicide language and terminology
  • myths and facts
  • what makes suicide prevention important
  • communication tips
  • signposting to training
  • useful practical resources
  • signposting to support organisations
  • promoting positive mental wellbeing

For groups or workforces interested in a suicide awareness workshop, please contact publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.

Other training options

If you are looking for different mental health and wellbeing or suicide prevention training, this guide can help identify what training might be right for you, your community or organisation, and the roles you have in supporting others.  

The options available seek to tackle stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and to build capacity to support those who are struggling. Content of some courses may also help you to support your own mental health and wellbeing.

You can compare courses based on the needs of those you are supporting, as well as mode of delivery and any costs to attend.

The opportunities listed here are to help those who work with others to learn more about mental health and wellbeing. When working with others, we need to recognise we also have mental health and wellbeing needs – courses labelled ‘self care’ will help you with your wellbeing.

A pyramid illustrating the mental health continuum from good mental wellbeing at the bottom, coping, struggling and in crisis at the top

The opportunities listed include e-learning and face-to-face learning (virtual and in person), as well as resources to support you. Some of the courses will be free, some will be funded and some will require a fee to attend.

Courses will aim to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health and build your capacity to support the mental health of others. While we aim to keep it updated, course availability may change.

The courses have been grouped into four categories, each one representing a stage in the mental health continuum.

Training opportunities in Plymouth and Torbay

Suicide prevention work in Devon