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Suicide awareness programme:

1.About our suicide awareness programme

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    Emergency situations

    If you, or someone you know is in immediate risk from suicide, or crisis services are not available, call 999.

    Introduction

    We all have a role to play in creating a safe, supportive workplace. Through our suicide awareness programme, we are building the skills and confidence across our workforce to recognise when someone may be struggling, have supportive conversations, and connect them to the right help.

    Our programme

    Our Suicide Aware Authority programme is our commitment to making suicide prevention everyone's business. It is designed to help you, as a member of staff, feel more confident to:  

    • recognise when someone may be struggling 
    • have supportive conversations 
    • help people access the right support when they need it.

    We believe that preventing suicide is not just the responsibility of health services. We can all play a part by looking out for colleagues, residents and members of our communities, and by creating an environment where it feels safe to talk about mental health and wellbeing.

    The programme includes a range of learning opportunities to suit different roles and levels of experience. From basic awareness sessions to more advanced intervention training, you can develop the skills and confidence to recognise signs that someone may be in distress, respond with compassion, and signpost them to appropriate support.

    Find out more about the support and learning available

    Why it is important

    Many people who are struggling with their mental health may not feel able to ask for help. By increasing awareness and encouraging open conversations about suicide and mental health, we can help reduce stigma and make it easier for people to seek support.

    Our programme is about more than learning and workshops. It is about building a culture where people feel supported, valued and able to talk openly about how they are feeling. Through awareness activities, trained champions and mentors, and a shared commitment to wellbeing, we are creating a more informed, compassionate and resilient workforce.

    By embedding suicide prevention into our everyday work, we can make a real difference to the lives of our colleagues, residents and communities, helping to make sure that people get the right support at the time they need it most. 

    Find out more about our eyecare voucher scheme

    Take regular screen breaks

    Make sure you take regular screen breaks to give your eyes the rest they need. Here are some tips to help you do this:

    1. Vary your tasks

    Try to plan and switch between screen and non-screen work so that you naturally get a break.

    2. Set a timer

    Take frequent, short breaks every hour with 5 to 10 minutes away from your screen, this could be to:

    • make a drink
    • do some stretches
    • go to the printer.

    3. Follow the 20-20-20 rule

    Every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a rest.

    4. Remember to blink!

    Blinking is the eye’s way of getting the moisture it needs on its surface. It also cleans the surface of your eye of any debris and washes it out with fresh tears.

    If you're talking to someone or looking at objects in the distance, you normally blink 30 to 40 times per minute. But when you are reading on a screen, your blinking naturally slows to 3 to 5 times per minute.

    By making a conscious effort to blink more often, this will help to keep the surface of your eyes from drying out and also sharpen your vision.

    Make your display work for you

    1. Position your screen correctly

    If your screen isn’t set up correctly, you may be unnecessarily straining your eyes.

    Your eyes should be roughly the same height as the top of the screen. If you find yourself leaning forward to peer at the screen bring the screen closer and/or adjust the font size so it is easier for you to read.

    2. Reduce glare and reflections

    Make sure you have a clear view of the screen with no glare or reflections.

    If daylight is shining on your screen you could:

    • close the blinds
    • tilt the screen
    • reposition yourself and the screen.

    3. Check image quality

    Make sure that your screen display is clear and flicker free. You may need to adjust the colours, brightness or contrast to make it clearer.

    Any text should be crisp and readable. Try adjusting the zoom or making the text larger if you experience difficulty.

    Get your eyes checked regularly

    As a regular DSE user, you should get your eyes checked every 2 years.

    You can get a full eye examination at no cost to you. If you need glasses solely for the use of digital screen equipment, you can also get a contribution towards this.

    Employee confidential helpline

    0330 380 0658

    Speak to fully qualified counsellors and support specialists at any time, 365 days a year.

    Use code 107574 to access the online resources.

    More about the employee assistance programme

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