Education and Training Ballarat, supporting suicide prevention

As part of this project, a stepped approach to suicide prevention training was developed, based on the intensity and scope of the training, and the intended audience.

This approach to suicide prevention involves providing suicide awareness and training at different levels across the community, in line with recommendations from leading suicide prevention training organisations such as LivingWorks Education.

This stepped approach can be visualised using a triangle, where the bottom, wider base represents a large number of people in the community being provided with the skills to recognise and provide initial support to a person who might be at risk of suicide.

The second layer from the bottom represents a smaller number of people who are provided with more general training in how to respond to someone experiencing a crisis, one aspect of which is a focus on having conversations about suicide.

The next layer up represents a yet smaller number of people with more suicide-specific training, who can identify someone at risk of suicide, ask the suicide question and refer them on to a professional who is trained in suicide intervention.

The next layer is smaller again and represents those who have more in-depth training around providing a suicide intervention, including asking about suicide, helping to create a safety plan to keep the person safe for now, and supporting them to find further professional help where required.

The reasoning behind this stepped approach is that not everyone in the community needs intensive intervention skills training, but the community needs many people who can recognise when someone else is in crisis and know how to direct them to appropriate suicide intervention services.

Not everyone needs to, or is expected to attend all four levels of training. People hold different positions in the community, and will therefore be more suited to certain workshops.

What do each of the workshops involve and who should attend?

LivingWorks START

This workshop is being offered as Level 1 with a total of 500 places available.

START is a 90-minute online course, you can complete at any time, that prepares you with the skills you need to look out for friends, colleagues, and family members; to recognise when someone is having thoughts of suicide and respond to keep them safe.

For the Ballarat Suicide Prevention Place-Based Trial Education and Training project we are encouraging general community members or volunteers across many types of community groups and clubs to complete this training. For example, those that have regular interactions with other community members, including members of community service groups, hobby groups, and sporting clubs would benefit from this training.

Lifeline’s Accidental Counsellor

This workshop is being offered as Level 2 with a total of 100 places available.

The workshop duration is a total of 5-hours. It takes a blended learning approach; self-directed online eLearning for 1.5 hrs plus a 3.5-hour group session delivered in person or virtually by Lifeline trainers. Participants are provided with basic skills to support someone in an emotional crisis by learning how to recognise, respond and refer to an appropriate service. Participants also learn how to confidently and safely ask about suicide.

We are encouraging general community members or volunteers across many types of community groups and clubs who want a little more depth knowledge for broader wellbeing support and suicide to complete this training, especially those that have regular interactions with other community members. Some examples of this could be members of community groups, or organisations, hobby groups, sporting clubs, finance, business, and insurance industries, front of house staff, real estate agents or hairdressers. Community access points like libraries, neighbourhood houses and men’s sheds would also benefit from this training.

LivingWorks SafeTALK

This workshop is being offered as Level 3 with a total of 100 places available.

safeTALK is delivered in a 3.5-hour face to face session and prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognise these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources.

We are encouraging general community members or volunteers across many types of community groups and clubs who want a little more depth knowledge for broader wellbeing support and suicide to complete this training, especially those that have regular interactions with other community members. Some examples of this could be members of community groups, or organisations, hobby groups, sporting clubs, finance, business, and insurance industries, front of house staff, real estate agents or hairdressers. Community access points like libraries, neighbourhood houses and men’s sheds would also benefit from this training.

LivingWorks ASIST

This is the final level in our training program and is the most in depth training we are offering.

ASIST is a 2-day face to face course in suicide first-aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—ASIST can be learned and used by anyone.

We are encouraging those in managerial or senior roles to undertake this level of training - those that support other staff or volunteers, those who are more likely to be called upon to support their club members or staff, and those who can mentor others. The level of skill is reflective of your level of responsibility.

Those people in community or sporting groups and/or organisations that hold a more senior role and can learn how to provide a suicide intervention.

Due to the limited number of positions available we need to ensure that our targeted stakeholders are able to access the training.

Here are some important details you need to know about our training.

The Ballarat Suicide Prevention Place Base trial is funding positions for Ballarat residents, particularly targeting community members that are not already working in organisations or roles that provide clinical or mental health support or treatment services.

This training is for those that may be recognised gatekeepers, those in the community who can at times be the first one to recognise changes in someone, or even be the person who someone reaches out to when they are overwhelmed.

As members and/volunteers of sports clubs, community groups and organisations, we don’t often have the opportunity to be trained to support others. This is your opportunity.

As employers or owners of businesses that have close client relationships, we might not realise the positive impact we can have if we recognise a decline in someone’s well-being. And like a community group, we might not have the opportunity to be trained to confidently support someone who might be a risk of suicide. This is your chance.

For this reason, we will need to do our best to:

• Confirm that you are located in the local government area of Ballarat
• Check if you have received any prior training recently, especially if it is at a higher level than you are requesting as part of this project
• Check that you meet the eligibility criteria

To access training please complete the relevant form in the surveys and forms sections. Please note completing these forms does not guarantee you access to, or a position in the requested training.

START:

1. By completing the form, you are sending your details to the WVPHN program lead and the Uniting Project Manager who will review your request, confirm there is not a duplication of details, ensure that you meet the necessary criteria and that there is available program access. Confirmation will be provided via email.
2. If access is provided, you will receive the link and access details for the online training via email.
3. You will need to complete the online training in 1 calendar month from the day you are granted access, or your access may be revoked and placed back into the pool of available training access positions.

safeTALK, Accidental Counsellor and ASIST

1. By completing the form, you are providing your information to the Uniting Ballarat and Lifeline Ballarat training team.
2. You will be contacted by Lifeline/Uniting training staff who will discuss your request with you, along with meeting eligibility criteria. Things to be considered:
   • Training dates already set
   • Available spaces
   • Suitability of requested workshop

Information provided by you for this project will be accessible to the project supplier (Uniting Ballarat/Lifeline) Ballarat and Western Victoria Primary Health Network.

Information provided by you will be used to support evaluations and data projections related to this project, Education and Training, and the Ballarat Suicide Prevention Place Based Trial.

Any publicly displayed project data will be de-identified in accordance with the relevant privacy act requirements.