---

---

Ady Prins, CWU MHFA Trainer in the North West, attended Zero Suicide Alliance, on-line event (webinar) last week promoting and explaining the new training programme which aims to provide knowledge, and understanding of autism as well as providing training on dealing with autism and suicide, and as part of World Autism Acceptance Week (2 to 8 April) 2024.

The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) is a UK based initiative hosted by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and funded through Mersey Cares NHS Charity.

Believing that one life lost to suicide is one too many, the ZSA aims to empower, educate, and equip individuals and organisations to take action to help prevent suicide.

Here Ady reports on the training and provides the links to the organisation so MHFAs and Safety Reps can attend training courses when they are available:

During the webinar, ZSA shared more about why and how the training was developed, heard personal experiences, and demonstrated a preview of the training.

Recording of webinar launch event

If you were unable to join the webinar yesterday, you can watch a recording here:

Autism and Suicide Awareness Training Launch Webinar Recording

If you would prefer to watch certain parts of the webinar, they have added chapters to the recording and links for those below:

00:00 Welcome and introductions - Alex Close (Zero Suicide Alliance)
03:31 Who we are (Zero Suicide Alliance)
06:05 National picture - Professor Sir Louis Appleby
08:55 Why the training was commissioned - Adele Owen (Greater Manchester Suicide Prevention)
14:13 How we developed the training - Alex Close (Zero Suicide Alliance)
26:32 Personal stories and lived experiences - Jav
28:43 Personal stories and lived experiences - Sue
34:53 Training preview
41:06 Message from the steering group - Mari Saeiki (Greater Manchester Autism Consortium)
44:37 Next steps
47:58 Closing message - Jav

Adi says that he is aware that some may find the content may be upsetting, especially if viewers have lost someone to suicide. It is important that you look after yourself and take time away if you need to.

There is also a full transcript of the launch event here

The CWU NW Regional Mental Health Network website provides support services and other documents featuring support and knowledge for CWU Mental Health First Aiders in the E-Library, as does the Zero Suicide Alliance via their website here

Autism and Suicide Awareness Training now available

You can now find the training at: www.zerosuicidealliance.com/autism-suicide-training

British Sign Language (BSL) fundraiser

The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) currently have a fundraiser running until the end of May 2024

Over 150,000 people use British Sign Language (BSL) as their primary or preferred language in the UK.

Deaf or hard of hearing students were more likely than hearing college students to have seriously considered suicide or attempted suicide in their lifetime, according to research (Fox, M. L., James, T. G., & Barnett, S. L. (2020). 

A separate study found that up to half of the deaf community in Britain experience mental health problems, with rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem almost double that of hearing people.  

That’s why your support to help raise £6,500 so ZSA can translate their latest training course detailed above, into BSL.

The fundraiser started with £115 that was kindly donated by people who joined the launch webinar for the training.

 

You can be a part of making a BSL accessible version of our training by donating online.

 

Designed & Content: Mark Holt Jamie McGovern

Hosted: Unionsafety