Strengthening Suicide Prevention in Education Ahead of 2026 RSE Changes

On Monday 8th June, the Headlight Project delivered a dedicated suicide prevention and awareness session for education staff, in preparation for the upcoming 2026 RSE curriculum changes.

The session brought together professionals from across the Tees Valley, creating a valuable opportunity to explore the importance of suicide prevention within schools and the critical role education staff play in supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

A particularly powerful moment came from guest speaker Andy Airey, who shared the deeply moving story of his daughter, Sophie. His courage, honesty, and openness resonated strongly with attendees, leaving a lasting impression and reinforcing the importance of early intervention, compassion, and understanding.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the staff who gave their time to attend and actively engage with such an important topic and whose commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of young people across the Tees Valley is both recognised and greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank AV Dawson for allowing us the use of their wonderful Lloyd Suite which offered us fantastic views over the Port of Middlesbrough and the River Tees.

We would like to encourage any education staff to reach out and to discuss our offering for the new academic year. For more information about our student and staff support sessions, please contact: education@headlightproject.org