Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, communications colleagues across the North West are being invited to attend a free online workshop on handling suicide sensitively.

Samaritans UK works closely with the media to support safe and informed coverage of suicide and has published its own media guidelines, but inappropriate reporting does still take place and this workshop will provide communicators with the knowledge and skills to improve their confidence in challenging this locally.

The event will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 5 September and will run from 9.30am-11.30am. The session will be delivered by Samaritans, hosted by Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.

Who should attend the training?

This training is suitable for communications and engagement teams, press officers and others responsible for media enquiries following a suspected suicide, as well as quality and safeguarding teams and any other members of staff that may be involved in handling local media and external enquiries.