Suicide Prevention Awareness for City of London businesses & workers

None of us remain completely untouched by stress or anxiety in our lives, and we may at times experience feelings of worthlessness or isolation. Making sure that anyone who needs support is able to access it in a timely manner is crucial to being able to manage common mental health issues effectively and before they become more severe.

Nowadays, there is increased awareness and openness about mental health and many people are more comfortable talking about it than even five years ago. This is a positive development. Yet for people who experience a mental health crisis, and who may feel suicidal, talking and seeking help may not be so easy.

In England, men are more likely to die by suicide than women, and most at risk are men aged 50-54. Up to half of those who take their own lives have attempted suicide before. Worryingly, in the UK, suicide rates among young people have been increasing in recent years.

The City of London Corporation is committed to reducing this tragic and avoidable loss of life through local suicide prevention measures, working in partnership with key stakeholders including Samaritans and the local business community. Local employers play a crucial role in these efforts, for example in supporting their staff to develop skills in approaching someone who is in crisis. We have been delivering these sessions to employers in the City and beyond over the past five years and they provide an easy way for firms to support these efforts.

Many workers travelling into and out of the Square Mile can act as “eyes and ears” and are likely to be first responders when it comes to spotting and assisting someone who is in crisis.

This short, interactive and practical City-specific Suicide Prevention Awareness session is delivered by Samaritans volunteers, in collaboration with the City Corporation’s Public Health team. It is aimed at anyone working in a City organisation – including those with responsibility for HR, facilities or security. It aims to provide the tools to start difficult conversations in a careful and sensitive way.

The session will be delivered online via Zoom. Spaces are limited to 20, to two places per organisation, to allow an interactive discussion. If you are interested in more than two places for your organisation, please get in touch with us at [email protected]

Once you have registered your interest, please email the team at [email protected] with the name, role and organisation of the person who would like to attend.

Attendees at previous sessions said the following about the training:

"Excellent session and very informative"

"This is a difficult subject that was communicated with compassion and sensitivity to provide a valuable learning experience"

"Even though I have experience in this field, the training has increased and added to my understanding"

"In the organisation I work in we already deliver 'managing mental health' workshops and this workshop was a lovely refresher and CPD"

“It was great to learn other ways Samaritans have to communicate and how much is being done around the City in general”

"Makes me see how important it is to step in if you see someone who looks like they're suicidal"

“Really useful session – covers some difficult issues really carefully but also succinctly"

Speakers:

Alison Hooper, Samaritans, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark branch

Caroline Adie, Samaritans, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark branch

Host or Publisher Business Healthy, The City of London Corporation