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Mental Health Solicitors

Gloucestershire appoints ASIST trainer to support mental health patients at risk of suicide (24 June 2016)

Date: 24/06/2016
Duncan Lewis, Mental Health Solicitors, Gloucestershire appoints ASIST trainer to support mental health patients at risk of suicide

Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC) public health team has funded training for an officer to train frontline staff in how to support people who are feeling suicidal.

The initiative is part of Gloucestershire County Council’s continued work on improving mental health in the county, says the Forest of Dean district council.

Emily Toomer currently works for the Forest of Dean district council (FODDC) in the Community Engagement team – and was selected from a number of candidates. She has completed a course in delivering Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

ASIST was developed in 1983 and is widely regarded as the world’s leading suicide intervention workshop, with more than 1,000,000 people having taken part since the programme started.

During a two-day interactive training course, participants are taught to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

ASIST teaches effective intervention skills for frontline staff who might have to deal with high-risk individuals, while helping to build suicide prevention networks in Gloucestershire.

GCC’s public health team secured funding of just under £10,000 from Health Education England to train Ms Toomer in ASIST, so that she can share her skills with frontline staff around Gloucestershire. She will deliver a total of six training courses over the next two years, with the first training course having taken place in May.

The council’s Cabinet Member for public health, Councillor Andrew Gravells, said:

“I’m delighted to have Emily on board to complement the work we’re already doing on suicide prevention.

“This training will give frontline staff working across Gloucestershire the skills needed to support people who are in crisis – and help to reduce the number of suicides in the county.”

ASIST trainer Emily Toomer added:

“I'm really proud and excited to be a part of Gloucestershire's efforts to address the issue of suicide, by delivering ASIST workshops for the county.

“It’s something I’ve always been passionate about – and I hope to help to reduce stigma around suicide and mental illness.

“The first workshop went very well – and it was amazing to see some of the care and compassion already being shown towards suicide within the county.

“It is great to see the county council building on the strengths already present within its local area, in order to reach a greater number of residents and further improve emotional health and wellbeing across the Gloucestershire.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals and police stations to advise on mental health law – and are available nationwide at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0333 772 0409.


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