Preventative Education & Training

Suicide is a community problem, and everyone can help. Through awareness presentations & campaigns, evidence-based training, education & workshops we aim to provide our local community with the knowledge and skills to help reduce the number of deaths by suicide.

Shine a Light on Suicide & Prevention

1 hour Presentation (plus time for questions) – Suitable for anyone aged 15+

We will come to your workplace, school, college, or community group to deliver our suicide awareness presentation. The aims of the presentation are to:

  • introduce the charity and why we were founded
  • raise awareness of suicide and the alarming numbers in our region
  • provide information about the services offered by the Headlight Project
  • introduce actions for a suicide safer community and workplace
  • provide information about further training opportunities

We do not make a charge for this presentation. However, as a charity we would appreciate any donation to help us in our mission.

(Minimum 20, max 100 participants)

Book a place on one of our next planned presentations here: 11th September or 16th October

For further details and information, please get in touch at education@headlightproject.org


SafeTALK (Livingworks)

Half day training suitable for anyone aged 15+ (FULLY FUNDED PLACES AVAILABLE)

This evidence-based training can be delivered in person or online and the delivery time is 3-4 hours. The training prepares participants to recognise and connect with a person with suicidal thoughts. Powerful videos illustrate the importance of alertness.

Our Livingworks accredited trainers will guide all participants to:

  • move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide
  • recognise people who have thoughts of suicide
  • apply certain steps to help them stay safe

The cost per person is normally £55* but we have some fully funded places available, thanks to a grant from Warburtons, on the following dates: 12th June, 30th June, 15th September and 2nd October. Click here to book your place

(Minimum 8, max 30 participants)
*Funded places are sometimes available

For further details and to book, please get in touch at education@headlightproject.org


ASK – Assessing Suicide Risk in Kids aged 5-14

Online training over two consecutive days (4.5 hours per day) plus 1-2 hours of self-paced pre-workshop reading

ASK is the only accredited training aimed at professionals working with children and young people aged 5-14 years old. It challenges commonly held notions about children’s capacity to consider suicide. It’s an alarming fact that although suicides under 10 years of age go unreported in the UK, they can and do happen.

Participants will learn:

  • How to talk about death with children
  • How to talk about suicide with children
  • Developmentally appropriate strategies and tools to identify young children at risk
  • How to quickly gather and organise details needed to assess risk
  • How to explore and consider protective factors to inform safety planning
  • To consider common challenges when working with parents and possible solutions

The cost per participant is £80*
(Minimum 16, max 30 participants)
*Funded places are sometimes available

For further details and to book, please get in touch at education@headlightproject.org


ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Livingworks)

Anyone 16+ can learn these lifesaving skills

Asist is a world-renowned 2-Day interactive training workshop that prepares you to provide suicide first aid interventions. It also helps individuals contribute to the development of suicide-safer resources in their communities. Our Livingworks accredited trainers will guide all participants to:

  • Identify people who have thoughts of suicide.
  • Understand how beliefs and attitudes can affect suicide interventions
  • Listen to the story of a person with suicide thoughts to seek an understanding of the reasons for those thoughts and identify reasons for living.
  • Conduct a safety assessment and develop a plan to keep someone safe from suicide, signposting for further help and resources as needed.

The cost per participant is £180*
(Minimum 16, max 30 participants)
*Funded places are sometimes available

For further details and to book, please get in touch at education@headlightproject.org.


School Workshops – Shine a Light on…

Whilst we provide suicide prevention training as a primary tool in our preventative education programme, we also believe that if we empower children to be able to talk and share feelings that in the longer term this can create less emotional luggage in later life and in turn reduce suicide numbers.

Therefore, we are currently looking to develop a series of age-appropriate workshops for small groups on specific mental health topics which we will be launching soon.

For further details, please get in touch at hello@headlightproject.org.


Campaigns

Turn Blue Monday Bright – Our Annual Awareness Campaign

This is a free awareness campaign that takes place on the third Monday in January. We encourage all schools, workplaces, and community organisations to be involved and provide support materials and guidance to everyone taking part.

The third Monday in January has become known as Blue Monday, due to the combination of cold weather, dark nights, and post-Christmas blues, leading to an increase in mental health issues which can lead to suicide. The aim of the day is to give people a reason to smile, and to remind them of the little things they can do to feel better. Within schools it helps to embed the message to children about talking about their feelings and where to go to if things are troubling them. We hope it gives everyone a reason to smile that day and encourages people to talk.

If you choose to include an element of fundraising that is entirely at your discretion but not a condition of taking part.

Visit our events section for more information about our Turn Blue Monday Bright campaign

Petition to introduce a Suicide Prevention Act to seek to minimise suicides

Please take a minute to sign the petition here

Need Support?

We provide counselling and therapeutic support to both adults and children bereaved by suicide in the Tees Valley. Visit our Get Support section for all enquiries for support, referrals and helpful resources.

Get Support

Read some stories of how we’ve helped people across the Tees Valley.

Read our stories

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