When a person is having thoughts of suicide, it is often the people they see regularly – like their work colleagues – who first notice a change and are best positioned to reach in and connect their workmate to supports.
Upskilling staff in workplaces across the UK with world leading suicide first aid skills is what LivingWorks’ local suicide prevention lead, Joann Hitchen, will be sharing at this year’s Watercooler 2024 event in London.
The Watercooler conference – dedicated to connecting professionals to discuss all things related to wellbeing in the workplace – takes place on April 23 and 24.
“If a staff member is struggling, they need to know what support is out there. Sometimes that support is from their own colleagues. The beauty of our skills training is that we can train your staff to be able to support their peers who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide,” says Hitchen, the LivingWorks UK Suicide Prevention Manager.
LivingWorks is the creator of the gold standard two-day suicide first aid workshop LivingWorks ASIST, as well as a half-day workshop LivingWorks safeTALK and online, self-paced training LivingWorks Start.
According to a study published in 2013, organizations have reported that a shared knowledge of LivingWorks ASIST facilitates implicit understanding and emotional empathy between colleagues as they are aware of what intervention entails and what the challenges may be (Evans, et al. 2013).
Across the globe, 2,500,000 people have completed LivingWorks training and gained the skills and confidence to know how to reach in and help someone to keep safe, access help and find hope.
Hitchen believes that a suicide prevention policy is a crucial aspect of any workplace, and hopes to engage with companies at The Watercooler and help them start the process with LivingWorks suicide prevention skills training.
“We know that anyone can be affected by thoughts of suicide. Companies have a duty of care to their staff, and our gold-standard training can help create a Network of Safety in any workplace,” says Hitchen.
To learn more about LivingWorks and our suicide prevention skills training offerings and how you can create a Network of Safety in your workplace, visit Joann Hitchen at booth A130 at The Watercooler 2024 and receive a complementary LivingWorks Start license, or head to Our Training page.
Why not join our next LivingWorks safeTALK or ASIST workshop in London?
Balfour Beatty is hosting two exclusive workshops at the beginning of May. Places limited!
Click here for information about the ASIST workshop: https://legacy.livingworks.net/training-and-trainers/find-a-training-workshop/view/25505
Click here for information about the safeTALK workshop: https://legacy.livingworks.net/training-and-trainers/find-a-training-workshop/view/25504
