Suicide Prevention
Suicides are preventable yet three times more people die by suicide each year than on our roads. Preventing suicide must be seen as a community-wide public health issue — and one that we can all play a part in addressing.
Somerset Council has commissioned Every Life Matters to deliver fully funded (free for you) online suicide prevention training for anyone living or working within Somerset.
And this is where you come in. By booking onto a course, you can learn practical, life-saving skills — and help spread the word by promoting the training within your communities and networks.
Every Life Matters is a suicide prevention and suicide bereavement charity passionately committed to reducing suicide. The training has been developed to be accessible, practical and empowering, evidence-based but delivered in a way that is non-clinical in its messaging.
The following sessions are available to book:
Suicide Alertness Training - 3.5 hours (Orange Button Training)
This interactive training session is aimed at anyone, particularly those in a helping role who want to understand more about the context of suicide, identify when someone may be at risk, how to ask directly about suicide, and what we can do to support someone and guide them to the help they need.
Completion of the training will also qualify individuals for the Orange Button scheme, for more information on this project please visit https://www.mindinsomerset.org.uk/training/orange-button/
"Training was delivered in an engaging and interactive manner. Trainer was very knowledgeable of the subject matter and delivered in a sensitive way."
Paul, Suicide Alertness Training Participant
Suicide Alertness Bitesize Training - 1 hour
The training provides a brief overview of why and how we need to be talking about suicide. It's suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the myths and facts surrounding suicide, understand when someone might be at risk, how to talk directly and comfortably about suicide, and what we can all do to offer practical support.
"Thanks so much for the session. Concise and informative! I think it's hugely helpful for both work and personal life."
Lynne, Suicide Alertness Bitesize Training Participant
Safety Planning Training - 2.5 hours
This 2.5 hour training session explores how we can help keep an individual who is having thoughts of suicide safe from acting on those thoughts by helping them create their own Safety Planning. A Safety Plan includes what you would do and who might support you in a suicide crisis.
Any of us (whatever our role – be it as a professional or be it as a friend, or a family member) can help someone create a Safety Plan – we are not taking clinical responsibility for them, we are just helping them keep themselves safe.
Safety Planning Training is suitable for anyone who has taken our suicide alertness training session and wants to know what more they can do.
"Practical and enabling – I feel more prepared to keep someone safe now."
Gabrielle, Safety Planning Training Participant
Please download our poster to print or share
For more information, or if you are interested in in-house sessions, please contact us at training@every-life-matters.org.uk
8th February 2026