Published: 19 February, 2026

Supporting clinicians to improve how suicide and self-harm risk conversations are approached was the focus of a recent training session.

Delivered by Mike Frank, mental health lead practitioner, in collaboration with gtd academy, the session forms part of a wider programme of mandatory training. The aim is to support clear, consistent approaches to suicide and self-harm risk assessments in clinical practice.

Mike was appointed as the organisation’s first mental health lead practitioner in November 2025 and has since been working to further develop how mental health care is delivered.

The training aligns with the latest NHS England Staying Safe from Suicide guidance and reflects a national shift in how suicide and self-harm risk is assessed and managed. Rather than relying on checklists or numerical risk scores, the approach emphasises professional judgement and practical, patient-centred care planning.

Mike said the training programme aims to provide staff with a clear structure for approaching suicide risk conversations.

“It focuses on clinical judgement and decision-making, helping staff identify what information is most important when assessing risk and agreeing next steps with patients,” he said.

“We explore how understanding of suicide and self-harm risk has evolved, the signs clinicians may notice and how to have effective, supportive conversations. There is also a strong focus on documentation and developing safety plans that are realistic and usable in practice.

“Alongside the training programme, I have produced standing desk leaflets that clinicians can keep nearby as prompts during consultations. These support consistent decisions around suicide safety, including current concerns, influencing factors and available support.

“I would like to thank my colleagues for engaging so openly with the sessions so far and for helping to shape how this training continues to develop.”

The training will continue to roll out over the next 12 months, with multiple dates scheduled throughout 2026.

Positive feedback from attendees:

  • “I now feel confident using the five P’s in my practice following the session.”
  • “The training was very relevant to my work in the hub, particularly when supporting patients with mental health issues.”
  • “Although I have not had many conversations with patients about suicide, I now feel much more confident in approaching and managing these discussions if they arise.”
  • “This is a very current topic, patients requiring mental health services contact out-of-hours on a daily basis.”
  • “The session was excellent.”