Online training makes suicide first aid accessible during COVID-19 crisis

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#livingworks--LivingWorks, a global leader in suicide prevention, is concerned about people’s mental health as we try to cope with the realities of a world with COVID-19. It is reminding people that everyone can play a role in identifying and protecting someone at risk of suicide.

“Now, more than ever, we cannot be complacent when it comes to protecting those around us from the risk of suicide,” says Shayne Connell, CEO of LivingWorks Australia. “Prioritising the upskilling of every Australian in suicide first aid is an essential part of keeping our families, friends, co-workers and communities safe.”

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3,046 people died by suicide in 2018 and one in 25 people has thoughts of suicide at any given time. There are many factors that increase risk for suicide. With issues related to COVID-19 - unemployment, social isolation and financial problems - those who may have been at risk before are more vulnerable than ever.

Building a network of safety

With easy, online, suicide prevention skill-building, people can learn what clues to listen for and how to connect the individual thinking of suicide with someone who can provide the help they need. When we all work together, this creates a network of safety in our communities.

LivingWorks Start is the first step in the continuum of safety skills offered by LivingWorks. It is a 90-minute online program that anyone can take to be trained to recognise the signs of suicide and take life-saving action by connecting those at risk to hope and safety.

“As its name suggests, this program is a great start for anyone looking to increase their awareness of suicide intervention skills. We are all working through these uncertain times and it is critical for us, as Australians, to look out for one another,” adds Connell.

As a way to make Start available to even more people during this critical time, LivingWorks is offering the Start program at a reduced cost that makes the program accessible to just about anyone. The company will also direct a portion of every sale of Start between now and June 30, 2020 to support suicide prevention initiatives related to COVID-19.

To learn more about Start, you can watch this video or visit Livingworks.net/start.

About LivingWorks:

LivingWorks is the world’s leading provider of suicide prevention solutions. It has more than 35 years of history and expertise and has trained 2.3 million people worldwide. Its programs have been evaluated in more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, and its ASIST and safeTALK programs are recognised best practices, used by crisis hotlines throughout the world. LivingWorks’ vision is a world free from suicide loss. It strives to accomplish this by providing high-quality training programs that empower everyone to be part of the solution.

Contacts

Media: Lisa Rushka, APR Media Relations, LivingWorks lisar@momentumcommunications.ca