When someone you know appears suicidal, you might not know what to do. UNSW Health is pleased to partner with Black Dog Institute to offer subsidised Suicide Prevention training to UNSW Students and Staff so our community can learn warning signs, what questions to ask and how to get help.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing mental health challenges, you can access the support you need via Mental Health Connect. For emergency support and life-threatening situations on campus please contact our 24/7 health and support page.
Mental Health Connect 24/7 help and support
Why is this training needed?
The loss of anyone to suicide is devastating for individuals, families, and the community surrounding them. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15-44 in Australia, and the complexity of preventing suicide differs from religion to region.
As part of UNSW's Mental Health Strategy released in December 2021, UNSW has made a commitment to investing in the well-being of our students and engaging in collaborative and innovative research projects that centre on the student's voice.
Suicide prevention is a particularly complex and crucial element of student mental health and wellbeing. To ensure that there is a supportive framework imbedded into our support services, an additional suicide prevention strategy has been created as an appendix to the UNSW Student Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy, aligned to the same strategic priorities of Prepare, Prevent and Respond. This Strategy represents the university-wide commitment to understanding student suicide, mitigating risk, appropriate intervention, and providing support to those in need.
The Recognise & Respond program aims to ensure that should signs of suicidality appear in anyone within our UNSW community, both staff and students are equipped with the skills they need in order to prevent further harm and loss to our community.
What will you learn?
Recognise and Respond: Suicide Prevention for everyday life, aims to assist in reducing and preventing suicide in Australia by equipping people with the skills to intervene with someone who is contemplating suicide.
A self-directed e-learning module comprising of four main learning components:
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recognising the signs of suicide
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having a conversation with and supporting the person
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providing help to the person
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self-care
The learning experience includes interactive activities, videos depicting interactions between a person experiencing thoughts of suicide and a helper, and a quiz to test the learner's knowledge. The module will take approx. 60 minutes to complete.
Who can enrol?
UNSW Students: students from any course and background can complete the training. Students who are in volunteer or paid positions which involves peer support are encouraged to enrol.
UNSW Staff: Each UNSW Faculty & Division have been allocated a certain number of enrolments. If you would like to use one of your Faculty/Divisions enrolments, please indicate where you are from in the form.
Next Step
Developed and evaluated, via a randomised controlled trial (RCT)
The program aims to assist in reducing and preventing suicide in Australia by equipping people with the skills to identify, recognise and respond to those at risk and assist them to seek appropriate help. Results will be published shortly.
