Suicide Prevention Training And How It Hurts Some

[Lucycat]

I have just had a friend and colleague come to the door. She was supposed to join a small group of us tonight for a retirement dinner but has bailed out because she is too distressed.

We both work for the NHS in Scotland and it is a target here to get as many staff as possible trained in suicide prevention. It is not her field of work, but the aim is to get ALL employees trained . She was told by her manager that the training was mandatory. It is not. She has experienced suicide several times - most recently her brother.

She told me one of the trainers said she was taking it too personally when she burst into tears in front of everyone. WTF? Do they think she is a robot?

I have already looked into it myself and the training is NOT recommended for vulnerable people - of which she is one. I have discussed with my T in the past what I should do if my manager tries to force me to go, and I have an action plan in place. I have attempted suicide in the past and do not need this training, just as she did not.

I am furious that the *caring* NHS has done this to her. It is madness to distress staff to this extent to meet a target. It does not affect her ability to do her job, and she would already be better than most at identifying and being able to talk to someone who is feeling suicidal. So the NHS has ticked a box, and a very caring professional is now taking tomorrow off work to try and recover her sense of well-being.

" Gets off soapbox"

 

[nimkekaa]

She told me one of the trainers said she was taking it too personally when she burst into tears in front of everyone.

That trainer should be reported for insensitivity. You think the trainer would have had to have sensitivity training to be able to talk about a topic like this.

I would love to get onto the soapbox with you if you don't mind.