Free suicide awareness and prevention training available across Staffordshire
- Chris Shepherd
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 14
Update 14/01/2026 @ 10:00 - All spaces are now fully booked. I will update this news blog and the Facebook post if any more dates are released
Residents, workers and volunteers across Staffordshire are being encouraged to take part in free suicide awareness and prevention training, with new sessions available throughout January, February and March.
The training is provided by Staffordshire County Council as part of its Talk Suicide programme, which aims to equip people with the skills and confidence to recognise warning signs, offer initial support, and help individuals access local services.
More than 2,500 people across the region have already completed the training.
What the training covers
The half-day courses are designed for anyone aged 18 or over who lives, works or volunteers in Staffordshire or Stoke-on-Trent. No previous experience or background in mental health is required, and all sessions are free of charge.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognise signs that someone may be at risk of suicide
Apply a simple four-step suicide intervention approach
Signpost individuals to appropriate local support services
The training is delivered online, making it accessible to people across the county.
January to March course availability
Upcoming Suicide Awareness & Prevention Training sessions currently showing availability include:
Tuesday 20 January (half day, morning) – limited places remaining
Tuesday 10 February (half day, morning)
Tuesday 17 February (half day, morning)
Tuesday 24 February (half day, morning)
Tuesday 3 March (half day, morning)
Tuesday 17 March (half day, morning)
Some January sessions are already fully booked, and remaining places are filling quickly.
Focus on children and young people
In addition to the general training, a specialist session is also available focusing specifically on children and young people.
The Suicide Awareness & Prevention Course – Focus on Children and Young People will take place on:
Tuesday 10 March, 2pm to 5pm (online via Zoom)
This session is delivered by Staffordshire County Council in partnership with Mind and focuses on:
Awareness raising around suicide in children and young people
Stigma and barriers to disclosure
Practical steps to take if you suspect a child or young person is experiencing suicidal thoughts
The course is open to anyone over 18 who lives, works or volunteers in Staffordshire or Stoke-on-Trent, and again, no prior mental health training is required.
How to book
All courses can be booked online via Staffordshire County Council’s public health booking system:
A community-wide approach
Staffordshire County Council says talking about suicide is not easy, but learning how to respond appropriately can save lives. By making the training free and widely available, the aim is to build a network of informed, confident individuals across communities, workplaces and voluntary groups.
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