Bristol City Council, supported by NHS England, is offering free Mental Health First Aid training and Suicide Prevention training. The training is for everyone, but priority is given to front-line workers or volunteers who are more likely to be supporting people who are at risk of poor mental health.

This training has receive a lot of interest. More sessions, after February and March 2020, are currently being organised. Below is some outline information about the training that was shared at the Suicide Prevention Summit.

Mental Health First Aid (two day course)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training supports people to spot symptoms of mental health issues, to offer initial help and guide a person towards support. The MHFA two day course leads to a qualification as a Mental Health First Aider. Further details may be found here: https://mhfaengland.org/

ASIST Suicide prevention training (two day course)

ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. It teaches participants to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide, and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. www.livingworks.net/programs/asist/