The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA), in partnership with Liverpool City Council, has launched a new LGBTQ+ Suicide Awareness Training course designed to help people feel more confident supporting LGBTQ+ individuals who may be struggling with their mental health.
The free online training brings together lived experience, community voices and clinical insight to highlight the unique factors that can affect suicide risk within LGBTQ+ communities, and offers practical guidance on how to have supportive, compassionate conversations.
Dr Claire Iveson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the Associate Director for Suicide Prevention, Quality Practice and ZSA at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust said:
“At ZSA, we want to keep conversations about suicide going, and more importantly relevant and inclusive to all voices in our communities. This new training builds on our wider programme of free training designed to empower and equip people to talk about suicide.
“We’re deeply grateful to everyone who shared their experiences to help shape this training. It’s important to us that our training is rooted in real experiences so that it feels applicable to real life.
“We know many people worry about ‘saying the wrong thing’ and can end up saying nothing at all. This course aims to change that, helping people feel more confident to recognise when someone may be struggling and to reach in with care and compassion. Our aim is to support safer, more inclusive conversations so LGBTQ+ communities feel heard, respected and supported when they need it most.”
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture for Liverpool, said:
“We know that LGBTQ+ people can face discrimination, stigma and other challenges that have a real impact on mental health. It’s crucial that we create safe, supportive environments where people feel able to speak openly and seek help. This training has been co-developed with the LGBTQ+ community, placing lived experience at its heart and supported by clinical expertise. It will help people recognise when someone may be struggling and respond with empathy, confidence and care.”
Anne Marie Lubanski, Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Adult Care and Health at Liverpool City Council, and Chair of Liverpool’s Strategic Suicide Prevention Forum, said:
“Suicide prevention is a key priority for us in Liverpool, and we know the impact of every life lost is felt deeply across our communities. As a diverse and inclusive city, we also recognise that people within our LGBTQ+ communities can face additional challenges that increase their risk, including stigma, discrimination and isolation.
“This training is an important step forward. Commissioned by Liverpool City Council and developed with the Zero Suicide Alliance and Mersey Care, it brings together lived experience, research and clinical expertise to build understanding and confidence. Our ambition is simple: that everyone feels seen, supported and able to access help when they need it. We’re proud to support this work and want to see it shared widely.”
Dr Rory McGill, Director of Public Health at Sefton Council and the lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside for Suicide Prevention, said:
“LGBTQ+ people continue to face inequalities that can have a profound impact on mental health. Shame and stigma can stop people reaching out, and we need to create environments where those conversations feel safe. This training brings together lived experience and clinical insight to help people recognise when someone may be struggling and respond with compassion.
“Destigmatising discussions around suicide is essential if we want to save lives. This training brings those realities to the forefront in a sensitive, practical way, and I’m proud to have contributed my experiences as part of the training.”
Mike Skegg, Founder of The Collaborative Network CIC said:
“Creating safer, more inclusive environments has always been at the heart of my work, both through The Collaborative Network and within the wider LGBTQ+ community. After losing my business partner, I saw even more clearly how important it is for people to feel able to talk openly about their mental health. Being part of shaping this training and completing it myself, I’ve seen how thoughtfully it brings together lived experience and practical guidance, and I’m really proud to have contributed to this work.”
The training is now freely available at: www.zerosuicidealliance.com/lgbtq-suicide-awareness-training
