Review of suicide prevention

The Suicide Prevention Working Group (SPWG) undertook a review of suicide prevention at the University for students and staff in line with the Universities UK and Papyrus Suicide Safer Universities guidance. As a result of these findings, changes have been implemented and work is ongoing to prevent suicide within the University community.

Suicide Safer Community Action Plan progress

Actions completed in 2023/24

• Further roll-out of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to key staff and increase take-up amongst all staff of suicide awareness training
• Develop and communicate a ‘Staff Suicide Awareness’ campaign aimed at all staff, to empower staff to start a conversation and offer support when they see someone struggling
• Complete actions emerging from the 'Be Well' at Bath strategy and learnings from the Mental Health Charter application
• Integrate suicide prevention into the #BeTheChange training module for all staff
• Evaluate the first year of the new Serious Incident Review Protocol for students
• Implement new Service Delivery Frameworks for student clinical intervention services

Actions completed in 2022/23

• Launched a men’s mental health initiative called ‘MENtion it’
• Alongside promoting our mental health awareness training, we trained key staff in suicide intervention to enable staff to safely intervene if someone is experiencing suicidal ideation
• Created a Serious Incident Review protocol following guidance for the sector from December 2022, to help support those affected by serious self-harm and suicide, as well as identifying any learnings within the University community that may prevent future harm
• Student Support collaborated with the national charity Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) to offer on-campus support to students who have been affected by the loss of someone to suicide

We also implemented the R;pple add-on to internet browsers on all University of Bath devices. When someone searches for words associated with suicide, a pop-up will appear to signpost that person to support. Learn more about R;pple for students and R;pple for staff.