Health / Pair gain qualifications for intervention training
Meanwhile a range of local organisations is marking mental health awareness week
PREVENTION training for dealing with people who may be suicidal is set to be offered in the isles more frequently after two trainers gained their qualifications.
NHS Shetland and Mind Your Head are set to combine on the assisted suicide intervention training (ASIST).
The news comes as a range of local organisations including NHS Shetland, Mind Your Head and Shetland Amenity Trust support mental health awareness week this week.
Running from today (Monday) to Sunday 18 May, the focus this year is on the power and importance of community.
The health board said that many people in Shetland “enjoy a strong sense of community”, but folk are being asked this mental health week to “take time to think about the communities that are important to you or find new ones that you would like to get involved with”.
NHS Shetland’s health improvement team leader Nicola Balfour said they knew that people “thrive when we have strong connections with others.”
“They can provide us with a sense of belonging, safety, and support at different stages of our lives, making us feel good about ourselves and improving our physical and mental health.
“It can sometimes be challenging to discuss our worries and concerns with others, and it’s important for us all to be informed and aware of the impact this can have on individuals so that we can try to help and support each other.
“As part of mental health awareness week, we want to address some of the stigma that is still associated and highlight the importance of connecting with people and community.”
The health board has been working with Mind Your Head to support the introduction of suicide prevention training in Shetland.
Laura Russell from NHS Shetland and Mind Your Head’s Mark Hughes have now completed the training to become registered trainers, with training set to be available to communities throughout the isles.
The suicide first aid training course is delivered in a two-day practical workshop and teaches the theory and practice of being suicide alert and how to conduct an intervention, helping people feel more able to ask someone if they are feeling suicidal and then knowing what to do next.
Mind Your Head chief executive Anouska Civico said this was a “significant and fantastic opportunity for Shetland”.
“It has been years since we have had the opportunity to deliver this training locally, when we have had applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST) available in Shetland,” she said.
“It has been at a significant cost as we have had to pay for trainers to come to Shetland and pay for their time, travel and accommodation.
“So, to be able to offer this locally will mean that ASIST will be able to be run more often and at no cost to the whole of the Shetland community.”
Balfour added it was a “huge step forward”.
“We know how valued this training has been in Shetland over the years and it is exciting to be in the position to offer this more frequently again and share these skills in our communities,” she said.
Shetland Amenity Trust meanwhile is offering two free events to mark mental health awareness week, with a guided coastal walk around Sumburgh Head from 10am on Thursday.
A hot drink and a traybake are included.
And on Sunday the amenity trust is offering ‘Birding with a Brew’ at the Sumburgh Lighthouse, again at 10am, with a selection of traybakes from the Picnic Press included.
No booking is required for either event.
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