Development of a suicide intervention training programme for secondary mental health services

Abstract

This article describes the elements of a suicide intervention training programme, known as the ‘I CARED and Shared’ model, which has been introduced in one NHS mental health service in England. The article outlines the development of this model and explains how it was adapted to ensure suitability for secondary mental health services. When developing the model, it was recognised that the fundamental elements of a suicide intervention training programme, such as establishing a connection with the person at risk of suicide, asking about suicide, and safety planning or crisis management, are immutable. However, there remains scope to ensure suicide intervention training programmes are up to date and increasingly comprehensive and suitable for mental health professionals, including nurses.