Zero Suicide Healthcare Training

STARS is a person-centred, psycho-social needs-based semi-structured interview. It was developed to provide an initial insight into the complex world of a suicidal person to inform immediate collaborative and compassionate care.

The purpose of STARS is to:

a) enhance worker understanding of the client's story by enticing worker reflection on the client rated concerns of factors contributing to the suicidal state and experience.

b) assist and guide workers on ways to elicit key client reported concerns subjectively perceived to contribute to suicidality.

c) provide workers with guiding domains of enquiry concerning empirically based risk and protective factor information, short-term proximal indicators of suicide risk (e.g. warning signs), and current and past suicidality contexts (based on the subjective meaning of these factors for the client).

The training consists of six modules:

1. Lived experience and worker attitudes

2. A renewed approach to risk assessment

3. Structure and application of STARS (Parts A, B, C and Clinical Notes) – this module involves education around uncovering suicide intent.

4. Safety planning

5. Duty of care and documentation

6. Self care skills-based role-plays for demonstration of competency are heavily emphasised, with formative assessment opportunities as well as a final review.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention aims to increase health professionals’ skills and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide.

The workshop provides practical tools for health professionals managing the full spectrum of suicide risk presentations, including the acute suicidal crisis, care after a suicide attempt, and assisting families experiencing suicide bereavement.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

This workshop has been designed to build on the current level of skills of school counselling staff, and to further develop confidence in undertaking risk assessments and safety planning for youth in distress.

In this highly interactive course, clinicians will have the opportunity to work on real case studies, reflect on their own experiences, and learn from peers.

The program has been developed based on extensive consultation with school psychologists and counsellors to identify the issues and solutions for dealing with complex cases in the school setting.

It is run by highly experienced clinicians with advanced group facilitation skills.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

For people from all walks of life, CALM (Connect - Ask - Listen - Monitor) provides flexible and evidenced-based training that empowers anyone with knowledge and practical skills to support someone experiencing suicidality – to reduce stigma, promote help seeking and save lives.

Utilising multi-modal delivery and varied resources including digital tools such as the ‘Be CALM', 'Be Safe' and 'CALM Care' apps.

CALM is a comprehensive suicide intervention/prevention training program that addresses suicide ideation and behaviours from a conversational perspective, with the ultimate goal of allowing the person thinking about suicide to express their thoughts in a supportive and non-judgemental environment. This program equips and empowers participants to recognise and respond to suicide risk, to support someone through stages of positive intervention, the development of a safety plan, and linking to other services for further help.

CALM was designed and is delivered using the theories and principles of motivational interviewing, recovery-oriented practice, trauma-informed practice and client-centred therapy.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

A 3.5 hour presentation that covers four key areas: Connect, Ask, Refer, Exit to build confidence, knowledge and skills that will enable participants to start a positive, and potentially life-saving conversation about suicide. This program equips and empowers participants to recognise and respond to suicide risk, and to have the skills to warm refer and so link to other services for interventions. Participants will be empowered with practical skills and resources, and given the confidence to remain calm.

Participants receive:

• Half day facilitated training by qualified facilitator;
• 16 page information booklet covering all learning materials;
• ‘CALM Care’ app for person being supported (immediate connection and contact);
• Web resources for further development and learning; and
• Completion certificate.

The Chats for life App targets young people and was developed in collaboration with the Queensland Mental Health Commission, Engage Lab (University of the Sunshine Coast) and a university student reference group and ConNetica.

The App addresses the:

• prevalence of mental health and suicide in Australia

• signs of at risk behaviours

• impact of life events and social determinants on suicide ideation for young people

• protective behaviours

• communication strategies and tools to support chats with at risk people

• suitable referral services, supports, resources.

The App also incorporates conversation planning tips and videos and tools to record planned conversations and automatic diary scheduling of conversations. The App is freely available. A 1.5 hour program was developed to accompany the App and provide opportunity to practice the conversation skills.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

Conversations for life® - Early Suicide Prevention (half day) Conversations for life® provides participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to have conversations with others who are starting to show signs of distress and withdraw.

This program provides participants with:

• an awareness of the prevalence of mental health and suicide in Australia

• an understanding of life events and social determinants that contribute to mental illness

• protective behaviours

• the skills and knowledge to identify signs and debunk social myths

• tailored mental health conversation planning tools

• problem solving and communication strategies that focus on mental health and early suicide prevention

• list of suitable referrals, support options and resources at local and national levels.

Independent evaluations completed by ANU Centre for Mental Health Research demonstrate statistically significant increases in suicide prevention knowledge, skills and willingness to engage in conversations with people who are vulnerable and or experiencing a crisis.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

This imminent risk of suicide prevention training program addresses:

• evidence underpinning suicidal behavioural patterns and precipitating factors
• impact of personal values/beliefs/myths on suicide intervention
• signs of persons at imminent risk
• understanding how personal values, inappropriate language and stigma impact individuals requiring support and general community members
• willingness to support people at imminent risk of suicide, and at risk individuals' willingness to seek support
• protective behaviours
• knowledge, skills and attitudes to facilitate active suicide intervention
• detailed communication tips, strategies and tools to intervene
• suitable referral, support, resources Self-care for individuals providing support.

The program can be delivered as a Train the Trainer or Participant Program. The program content and delivery timeframes can be tailored to suit unique contexts and audience needs. Independent evaluations completed by ANU Centre for Mental Health Research demonstrate statistically significant increases in suicide prevention knowledge, skills and willingness to engage in conversations with people who are at imminent risk of suicide.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

This early suicide prevention training was developed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-indigenous people.

The program incorporates:

• the impact of colonisation and the unique factors contributing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' thoughts of suicide and other detrimental behaviours
• a strengths-based approach to community engagement, social support and suicide prevention an awareness of the prevalence of mental illness and suicide in Australia generally and for First Nations people the skills and knowledge to identify signs and debunk myths relating to suicide
• practical suicide prevention yarn planning tools and tips to support yarns protective behaviours

• practice suicide prevention yarning techniques suitable national and local referral services, support options and resources.

The program can be delivered as a Train the Trainer or Participant Program. Program content and delivery time frames can be tailored to suit unique contexts and audience needs. Independent evaluations completed by ANU Centre for Mental Health Research demonstrate statistically significant increases in suicide prevention knowledge, skills and willingness to engage in yarns with people who are vulnerable and or experiencing a crisis. The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention endorsed Stronger Smarter Yarns for life for its development method and alignment with best practice.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.

CORES aims to educate communities in early suicide prevention through early suicide intervention training. Being able to recognise the warning signs & know what to say, what to do & where to go for help. Providing the link between people at risk, the service providers & the community.

Read more about external evaluations completed on CORES here.

Please note: Training programs listed are accessed at the user's discretion and are not endorsed by Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia nor Life in Mind.