This resource is...
- A primer to support faith-informed conversations about suicide prevention and postvention with members of the public.
- Designed to support general prevention conversations, rather than crisis presentations .
- A living document which can be amended over time. If you would like to make suggestions, please let us know.
This resource is not...
- A comprehensive guide to suicide prevention and postvention.
- Designed to support with crisis presentations or emergency situations.
- A replacement for standard training on suicide awareness, prevention and postvention.
Do ensure that use of this guide by individuals and organisations is accompanied by standard training on suicide awareness, prevention and postvention.
Who is this resource for?
- Front-line workers
- People leading front-line teams
- Anyone planning or implementing suicide prevention or postvention strategies in public or voluntary, community and faith sectors (VCFSE)
What do we mean by "front-line worker"?
We are using this term to mean anybody who may be interacting with patients/public in a professional capacity, and who may engage in conversations or consultations around suicide prevention. This may include:
- Health professionals within primary care/A&E
- Other allied health professionals and social care
- Wider public services, e.g. police and fire services
- VCSE and statutory helplines and services
- Public-facing roles in other industries such as retail, hospitality, and entertainment
- Workers in other sectors (e.g. hospitality, retail) trained in mental health awareness/suicide prevention
How was it produced?
This resource was developed in collaboration with representatives of six faith traditions, as well as front-line workers and people with lived experience.
This work has been supported by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council as part of a wider project looking at suicide prevention and faith and belief.
Content was developed via a series of one-to-one interviews, one listening workshop, one larger design workshop, and editing contributions from an expert panel throughout Summer–Autumn 2023.
This work was made possible through funding from the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, jointly managed by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
