In a county with the third highest suicide rate in the UK, a powerful community collaboration is helping to equip those on the frontlines with vital skills to recognise and respond to those in crisis. The South West Peninsula Methodist District has recently completed an important initiative, delivering Prevent Suicide Training to 30 volunteers and staff across Cornwall.
“Church volunteers and staff often come across individuals who are struggling. This training equipped us with skills and knowledge to support others. It also put us in contact with specialised organisations such as Healthy Cornwall,” says Helen Pearce, District Social Justice Co-ordinator.
"Ensuring that frontline volunteers have access to high-quality training, such as Suicide First Aid®, is essential in building confidence and skills to respond effectively," adds Fiona Aldred, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Suicide Prevention Education and Training.
The training was facilitated by the Revd Jonathan Budd and the Revd Danny Reed, who are Superintendent ministers from the Saltash Circuit and the Lizard and Mounts Bay circuit and was delivered by Healthy Cornwall. Both superintendents also encouraged people from their wider communities to attend.
Many of warm welcome spaces, foodbanks and clothing banks are lifelines for vulnerable people. “Completing a suicide prevention training course was incredibly valuable in equipping us with the knowledge and skills to recognise warning signs and provide support to individuals in crisis," explains Jo Couch, Circuit/Church Administrator at Saltash Wesley Methodist Church.
What makes this initiative particularly effective is its community-based approach. Rather than relying solely on professional services, the training acknowledges the crucial role that community volunteers play in reaching vulnerable individuals who might otherwise slip through the cracks of formal support systems.
The Samaritans report that more than 6,000 people across the UK and Ireland take their own lives each year and only a third of those will have been in contact with specialist mental health services in the year before their death.
Becky Miles, a Healthy Cornwall trainer who delivered the sessions, says the community-centred approach is important:
The training days were intensive but thoughtfully organised. In Saltash, local company Rowe's Ltd contributed by donating pasties for all delegates – a gesture that brought a touch of Cornish hospitality to a challenging subject matter. This local business involvement further emphasises the collaborative spirit driving the initiative.
Many delegates support the Orange Badge Scheme, developed by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System to identify those trained to address suicide concerns. This badge signals to vulnerable community members that they are with someone ready to listen and help.
The success of these training days demonstrates how the Methodist Church can play a strategic role in supporting local communities through positive collaboration. The training's impact extends beyond participants, as each delegate received a resource pack with links to charities and support services for suicide prevention. This ripple effect helps spread awareness about available support in communities.