COURSES AND EVENTS TO SUPPORT YOUR JOURNEY
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
SFAUSI
1-day gatekeeper training solution, teaching suicide intervention skills, this course is also a Accredited Unit of Learning programme, awarded by City & Guilds Institute. Upon satisfactory completion of a knowledge-based written assessment participants attain 6 NQF credits at level 4, which is:
The UK’s National Accredited Unit of Learning in Suicide Prevention 2013-19
Course overview:
A men only course teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting, captured in a one-day event accredited by City and Guilds of London. We use only the most experienced suicide prevention trainers to deliver this unique learning experience: for anyone who seeks greater understanding and confidence to intervene with people at risk of suicide.
Course content:
SFAUSI is comprised of 4 parts, each approximately 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches and practices the skills and knowledge needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and competently intervene to help create suicide-safety as a first aid approach.
Part 1 – 09:30 to 11:00
Introduction to: the day; programme; ourselves and suicide prevention
Stigma, Survivors of bereavement by suicide and the Hidden Toll
Suicide thoughts and suicide behaviour
Intention of behaviour Versus Outcome of behaviour
Possible Causes of Suicide thoughts
Part 2 – 11:15 to 12:45
Suicide – the Ripple Effect
Population-based approach to suicide prevention
Partnership working
Working with attitudes and values
“I’m Really Glad You Told Me” audio visual
Part 3 – 13:30 to 14:45
Meeting the needs of a person who is thinking about suicide
Suicide-Safety Guide
Step 1 – Recognising suicide and Asking about suicide
Step 2 – Understanding options
Part 4 – 15:00 to 16:30
Step 3 – Safeguarding suicide
Suicide-safety and self-care
The risk assessment approach
Future learning
Methods of delivery:
Taught over 6 hours using tutor facilitated Socratic learning, tutor-led role-play, mini lectures, group work and audiovisual presentations. This is a highly interactive and emotionally engaging learning experience.
Pre-training requirement:
No previous experience or training is necessary. Participants will be asked to self- reflect and empathise with a person having thoughts of suicide.
Who should attend?
Multi-sector practitioners including health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, call centre operators, private, voluntary and public sector workers and community members.
Accreditation
Participants will gain 6 NQF credit points at Level 4 by completing a workbook of tasks that are assessed against the set learning outcomes.
A Lifeline for Male-Dominated Communities: Subsidised Suicide First Aid Training
We understand that not all communities and companies have the resources to invest in life-saving suicide first-aid training. That's why Tough To Talk, in partnership with NCPET and the City and Guilds, is stepping in to help.
Thanks to our generous donors and fundraisers, we are excited to announce that we can now subsidise at least one male-only suicide first aid course per month.
These courses are specifically designed for male-dominated environments, where the need for such training is often high but overlooked due to lack of funding.
Do You Qualify?
To be eligible for this subsidised training, your community or company must:
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Be a male-dominated space, meaning the majority of members or employees are men.
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Have little or no funding available for suicide first aid courses.
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Be a not-for-profit organisation or charity.
This is an opportunity to empower your community or workforce with the knowledge and skills to intervene and potentially save a life.
How to Apply
If your organisation meets these criteria, we encourage you to apply. Visit our website and fill out the contact form. Let us know about your community or company, the challenges you face, and why this training would make a difference.
Don't let financial constraints prevent you from equipping your community or company with the tools to combat suicide. Reach out today and let's make a difference together. Because every life matters.
Together, we can make it easier for men in male-dominated environments to talk about their mental health and seek help when they need it. Let's break the silence and end the stigma. It's tough to talk, but it's tougher to lose someone to suicide.
SFAUSI
A men only course teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting, this programme is delivered over 3 hours as a suicide prevention awareness session. We use only the most experienced suicide prevention trainers to deliver this unique learning experience: for anyone who seeks greater understanding and confidence to intervene with people at risk of suicide.
The Suicide First Aid Lite (Virtual) course gives learners the knowledge and tools to understand that suicide is one of the most preventable deaths and some basic skills can help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe from their thoughts and stay alive.
Audio and video graphic
Course overview:
SFA Lite is comprised of 2 parts, each 90 minutes duration. The programme teaches the skills needed to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and to pass the person onto a trained professional.
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Part 1 – 90 minutes
Introduction to the session; programme, ourselves and suicide prevention
Stigma and survivors of bereavement by suicide and the Hidden Toll
Suicide thoughts and suicide behaviour
Intention of behaviour versus outcome of behaviour
Possible causes of suicide thoughts
Suicide – the ripple effect
–Break–
Part 2 – 90 minutes
‘I’m really glad you told me’ audio visual
Suicide Safety Guidance
Recognising and asking about suicide
Referring a person onto a trained professional
Suicide First Aid Lite (Virtual) training offers learning outcomes that are knowledge based and factual. This training can be used as a stand-alone programme or as the first part of a journey to learn suicide prevention skills.
The one-day programme Suicide First Aid through Understanding Suicide Interventions is a City & Guilds qualification programme and the next step for people wanting a more in-depth practise-based approach to the learning. The information in SFA: Lite Virtual is easy to grasp for people of all skill levels and those with no prior knowledge of the subject. It is designed to meet the needs of virtual groups and could be used as a forerunner to the one-day Suicide First Aid Programme.
Evidence Base:
Two independent evaluations in 2016 and 2017 by Dr Paul Rogers demonstrated significant statistical change in 14 of 19 measures. Increased confidence and reduced anxiety in dealing with suicide, were among the leading outcomes.
Methods of delivery:
Taught over 3 hours using tutor facilitated socratic (interactive) learning, tutor-led practise sessions, mini lectures, group work and audio-visual presentations. This is a has some interactive elements and is an emotionally engaging learning experience.
Pre-training requirement:
No previous experience or training is necessary. Participants will be asked to self- reflect and empathise with a person having thoughts of suicide. There is no expectation on participants to share personal experiences.
Who should attend?
Multi-sector managers and practitioners including health, housing, social care, education, criminal justice, call centre operators, private, voluntary and public sector workers and community groups or members.
A Lifeline for Male-Dominated Communities: Subsidised Suicide First Aid Training
Get to Know Us
We understand that not all communities and companies have the resources to invest in life-saving suicide first-aid training. That's why Tough To Talk, in partnership with NCPET and the City and Guilds, is stepping in to help.
Thanks to our generous donors and fundraisers, we are excited to announce that we can now subsidise at least one male-only suicide first aid course per month.
These courses are specifically designed for male-dominated environments, where the need for such training is often high but overlooked due to lack of funding.
Do You Qualify?
To be eligible for this subsidised training, your community or company must:
-
Be a male-dominated space, meaning the majority of members or employees are men.
-
Have little or no funding available for suicide first aid courses.
-
Be a not-for-profit organisation or charity.
This is an opportunity to empower your community or workforce with the knowledge and skills to intervene and potentially save a life.
How to Apply
If your organisation meets these criteria, we encourage you to apply. Visit our website and fill out the contact form. Let us know about your community or company, the challenges you face, and why this training would make a difference.
Don't let financial constraints prevent you from equipping your community or company with the tools to combat suicide. Reach out today and let's make a difference together. Because every life matters.
Together, we can make it easier for men in male-dominated environments to talk about their mental health and seek help when they need it. Let's break the silence and end the stigma. It's tough to talk, but it's tougher to lose someone to suicide.
TOUGH TALKS
Steve Whittle - The Game-Changer for male suicide crisis
Meet Steve Whittle, a force to be reckoned with. The mastermind behind the charity 'Tough To Talk', a suicide intervention assessor tutor, and the creator of the MANUP book and journals, Steve is a powerhouse in the battle against men's mental health stigma.
A man who doesn't just talk about the male suicide crisis - he's lived it. He's faced the darkness, been through the crisis support, and come out with scars that tell a tale of survival.
His past? In the Royal Navy, where strength wasn't just a virtue, it was a necessity. His present? In marketing, where he moulds messages, shapes strategies, and drives change.
His passion? Tough To Talk. A charity he founded is dedicated to reducing male suicide, smashing the stigma, and sparking cultural change. Its mission? To destroy toxic masculinity at its roots and help men feel comfortable seeking help in times of crisis.
He's not your average speaker. He's a culture-shifter, a game-changer. He's on a mission to shake things up, challenge the status quo, and inspire change in communities. His goal? To rethink masculinity, reduce male suicide rates, and obliterate the stigma.
His talks they're knockout punches against toxic masculinity. They spotlight the male suicide crisis, an issue that's taken centre stage, with male suicide rates triple the rate of women.
But Steve doesn't just raise awareness. He sparks action. He fuels change. Cultural change. Because, let's face it, cultural problems need cultural solutions. And that's what Steve delivers.
Ready to join the fight against male mental health stigma? Ready to stand with Steve, to learn from him, to change the narrative together? Then let's do this. Let's shatter the silence. Let's make a difference. Together.
His topics? Hard-hitting. Unflinching. Raw. Here's a taste:
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Male Suicide Crisis: He dives deep into the heart of this crisis, pulling no punches. The facts. The figures. The harsh reality. It's an issue we can't ignore.
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Toxic Masculinity: Steve strips it bare, exposing the ugly truth beneath. He challenges outdated stereotypes, busting myths and breaking down barriers.
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Mental Health Stigma: He takes it head-on, tearing down the walls of silence. Speaking out. Standing strong. Shattering the stigma.
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Empowerment: He fuels the fire within, inspiring action. Empowering others to stand up, speak out, and make a difference.
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Cultural Change: Steve doesn't just talk about change. He ignites it. He's a catalyst, sparking a shift in societal attitudes and beliefs.
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The MANUP Movement: He's the curator, the creator, and the driving force behind this game-changing movement. It's not just a book. It's a revolution.
Fee’s
Contact the charity for fee's. All money raised will go directly to the charity.
Key Achievements
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Ex-Royal Navy
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Curator of #MANUP – A global collection of brave and insightful stories of men’s mental health challenges
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Creator of the #MANUP journal for boys and men
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Survivor of suicide behaviours three times. Lived Experience
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Founder of Tough To Talk
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Suicide intervention assessor and tutor
Testimonials
Steve is a powerful and inspiring speaker who delivers a vital message. The importance of the message is only matched by his energy and honesty. His work is saving lives, and his ability to reach deep into people's minds is one of the reasons why. Julio Taylor, CEO Hallam
Steve is so passionate in the work he does. The fact he has his own lived/living experience, compounds his approach with sincerity and empathy. We absolutely had to have him part of the Work Health Hub as our voice for male suicide. We are with him every step of the way in fighting to eradicate male suicide and normalise the conversation around mental health.
Kate Wood (she/her)
Work Health Hub and Mental Health and Productivity Pilot Manager. University of Nottingham.
