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When the right words don’t come easily

Practical, compassionate training to help professionals respond confidently to self-harm, suicide and bereavement.

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“Jez clearly has an outstanding knowledge of the subject area and delivered a confident and worthwhile session.”

Learner feedback,

Suicide Awareness training

Five things Jez comes back to again and again

After more than 35 years working in mental health, these are the ideas Jez returns to because they consistently make the biggest difference.

We are all human, and we all have needs. When those needs go unmet, distress can build. Training starts from understanding rather than judgement, helping people respond in ways that feel supportive rather than overwhelming.

Feeling heard and not alone can make all the difference. Training explores how trust is built and how meaningful connection can help people feel safer in difficult moments.

Supporting someone well rarely happens alone. Whether in schools, healthcare, workplaces or communities, good support often comes from people working together and sharing responsibility.

Staying curious about what is really going on for someone is often more useful than searching for the perfect thing to say. Training helps people ask better questions and feel more able to respond when things feel uncertain.

Confidence grows through practice. Sessions are built around real conversations, practical scenarios and reflection. Sometimes the most important skill is simply knowing how to stay in the conversation.

“Jez creates a safe learning environment where learners feel comfortable to ask questions and share experiences.”

Teresa Stevens

Learning & Development Consultant

Training

We already know these conversations matter. The harder part is knowing where to begin, what to say and how to respond when somebody needs support.

Each session is tailored to the realities of your work, whether you're in education, healthcare, counselling, community support, safeguarding, HR or frontline services.

Explore the training programmes below to find the course that best fits your role, experience and organisation.

Self-Harm Awareness

Understanding self-harm with compassion

Self-harm can leave even experienced professionals feeling unsure. This workshop explores what may sit underneath self-harm and how to respond in ways that feel thoughtful, safe and genuinely helpful.

2.5-hour workshop • CPD

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Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Feeling more confident having the conversation

Many people worry about saying the wrong thing. This workshop helps participants recognise concerns, ask direct questions and respond with greater confidence. It also covers when and where to signpost for further support.

Half-day or full day

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Suicide Assessment and Intervention

Practical risk assessment and responding to suicidal thoughts

When concerns feel more immediate, confidence matters. This workshop focuses on understanding risk, asking difficult questions and creating practical safety plans that work in the real world.

Half-day or full-day workshop • Intervention skills

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Bereavement by Suicide

When grief feels harder to make sense of

Grief after suicide rarely follows a predictable path. This workshop helps professionals better understand the unique challenges of suicide bereavement and how to support people through it.

Workshop • CPD

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Self-Harm Awareness

Understanding self-harm with compassion

Self-harm can leave even experienced professionals feeling unsure. This workshop explores what may sit underneath self-harm and how to respond in ways that feel thoughtful, safe and genuinely helpful.

2.5-hour workshop • CPD

Explore training

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Feeling more confident having the conversation

Many people worry about saying the wrong thing. This workshop helps participants recognise concerns, ask direct questions and respond with greater confidence. It also covers when and where to signpost for further support.

Half-day or full day

Explore training

Suicide Assessment and Intervention

Practical risk assessment and responding to suicidal thoughts

When concerns feel more immediate, confidence matters. This workshop focuses on understanding risk, asking difficult questions and creating practical safety plans that work in the real world.

Half-day or full-day workshop• Intervention skills

Explore training

Bereavement by Suicide

When grief feels harder to make sense of

Grief after suicide rarely follows a predictable path. This workshop helps professionals better understand the unique challenges of suicide bereavement and how to support people through it.

Workshop • CPD

Explore training

More confidence starting difficult conversations.

Practical language they can use in real situations.

A clearer understanding of risk, support and signposting.

Space to reflect on situations they are already facing.

Reassurance that they do not need a perfect script to be helpful.

A little about Jez

I have spent more than 35 years working in mental health, supporting people and training professionals in self-harm, suicide prevention and bereavement.

Over the years, I have worked in the NHS, the prison service, charities and community settings, including leading the national suicide prevention programme within the Ministry of Justice.

My work has been shaped by both professional and personal experience. Every training programme is practical, trauma-informed, evidence based and aligned with NICE guidance, helping people feel more confident when conversations become difficult.

Meet Jez

“We would not hesitate in recommending Jez Spencer as a trainer.”

Teresa Stevens

Learning & Development Consultant

You do not have to have it all figured out

You might be looking for training for a team. You might be responding to a difficult situation. Or you may simply want to feel more confident around conversations that many people find challenging.

Common reasons people get in touch

People often contact Jez because they want their team to feel more confident having conversations that can feel difficult, sensitive or high risk.

This may follow a specific incident. It may be part of staff development, safeguarding, well-being or CPD. Or people simply want to feel better prepared before the moment comes.

Whatever has brought you here, you do not need to know exactly what training you need. Jez is happy to talk it through and help you find the approach that will be most useful.

  • A team wants more confidence talking about self-harm or suicide.
  • An organisation has recently experienced a difficult incident.
  • Staff worry about saying the wrong thing.
  • Existing training feels too clinical, scripted or detached from real practice.
  • A team wants reflective CPD that feels safe, practical and human.

For therapists and counsellors

Reflective CPD around suicide bereavement, risk conversations and therapeutic practice.

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For organisations

Schools, workplaces, healthcare teams, charities and community organisations looking for thoughtful, practical training.

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