Free training on mental health and suicide prevention

Two free training courses on the topic of mental health and suicide prevention will run next month.

The two-session courses are available to all staff and volunteers involved in health and social care settings and all third sector staff across the Scottish Borders.

Each course will be delivered over two 90-minute sessions on Microsoft Teams by Borders Care Voice, who have been commissioned by the NHS Joint Health Improvement Team, who developed the training.

This Informed Level training is the foundation level of the Knowledge and Skills Framework for mental health improvement and prevention of self-harm and suicide prevention, which was co-produced by NHS Health Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland.

The training is for staff and volunteers in health and social care settings and beyond. It aims to help them develop their abilities in recognising and responding to people who they come into contact with who may be in distress and require additional support. It will cover:

• Mental health and how to maintain this, plus the factors that can lead to mental distress or mental ill-health
• Having compassionate conversations to support people who are experiencing mental distress or may be feeling suicidal and help them to seek help
• Suicide prevention.

Course one will be delivered in two sessions, with the first on 9th July and the second on 16th July, both starting at 10am.

Course two will take place on 15th and 22nd July, with both sessions again starting at 10am.

Book your place using the form found here.