As a regular lead Reviewer/Investigator of suicide incidents, my colleagues and I frequently identify risk assessment and safety management concerns. In particular, gaps in suicide mitigation awareness, skills and confidence. Having participated in Connecting with People training, I can affirm how effective it is in extending the understanding of suicidal thinking and warning signs. In addition, it enhances the skills of practitioners in responding with empathy in supporting the individual and enabling them to develop personal resilience and more optimistic thinking as part of their personalised safety plan. I consider the Connecting with people approach takes risk and safety management to a new and more sophisticated level and I urge clinical governance leads and professional heads to actively consider commissioning this model.
Malcolm Rae OBE FRCN

I now feel able and confident to create and discuss a 'safety plan' for the patient. I feel empowered that by discussing a patient's suicidal thoughts I can assess them more accurately, will refer patients more appropriately to secondary care services and by discussing simple practical solutions, that I can actually reduce their risk of dying. This course should be compulsory for all GPs in training.
General Practitioner