Help for Heroes and ZSA launch veteran suicide awareness training

The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) is proud to have worked with Help for Heroes to develop a new suicide awareness training aimed at supporting veterans.

Research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Help for Heroes revealed:

• 1 in 3 veterans have felt suicidal in their lifetime.*
• Veterans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts are more likely to turn to family and friends for support than a trained professional.*
• Veterans who are struggling, are less likely to ask for help than those who have not served in the Armed Forces.*
• Over 50 per cent of the Great British adult population would not know how to help someone struggling with suicidal thoughts*. 

By making suicide awareness training available and accessible, it is hoped this will change.  

About the training

The training takes approximately 30 minutes and shares how to recognise signs that a veteran may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, coaches you in how to have a conversation with someone you’re worried about and where to direct them to for support.

It includes veteran specific scenarios, real life stories and signposting resources.

The training has been developed for those close to veterans, being their family members and friends, but can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over.