Capability area
Suicide First Aid, awareness learning and practical organisational support for prevention, intervention and responding after a suicide.
Our position
Laura Rigden
IAP founder, lead consultant and facilitator.
Meet Laura and the IAP CrewMost people want to help and are frightened of saying the wrong thing. Suicide prevention learning helps people practise a calm, humane response: notice, ask directly, listen, and help the person move towards safety and support.
We treat this work with the seriousness it deserves. Sessions are carefully designed, trauma-aware, with clear boundaries, no forced disclosure and clear signposting throughout.
Licensed programmes · global enquiries
Delivered by IAP under licence. Each programme has its own audience and format — here's how they differ.
For international groups, we agree language, time zones, cultural context and support pathways before delivery. Availability and award arrangements are confirmed for the country and cohort, not assumed to be identical worldwide.
The adult/general programme for recognising thoughts of suicide, having a supportive conversation and helping someone move towards safety and support.
Learn more about SFA: Understanding Suicide Intervention (USI)
A shorter introduction to recognising thoughts of suicide, offering initial support and connecting someone with help.
Learn more about SFA LiteThe full USI programme for people supporting young adults, with particular attention to student wellbeing and higher-education settings.
Learn more about SFA: USI Young AdultsA shorter introduction to suicide first aid for people supporting young adults, particularly in higher and further education settings.
Learn more about SFA: Young Adults LiteThe full USI programme for people supporting children and young people, connecting suicide first aid with safeguarding and age-appropriate support.
Learn more about SFA: USI Children & Young PeopleA shorter introduction to suicide first aid for people supporting children and young people, connecting initial support with safeguarding awareness.
Learn more about SFA: Children & Young People LiteNot sure which programme fits? Tell us about your group and we'll recommend the right one — including additional capacity building for existing MHFAiders.
IAP-owned learning
Bite-sized sessions designed by IAP for whole organisations and communities — approximately 60 minutes to 3 hours.
Fastest to book
Most common
Deepest
Organisational capability
Courses alone don't make an organisation ready. This is the wider work.
Reducing risk in work design and culture, building literacy, reducing stigma, making help visible and reachable.
Clear routes when someone is at risk: who does what, escalation, manager confidence, support for the supporter.
Planning ahead for how an organisation or community responds after a suicide, including staff support and communication.
Facilitated sessions to agree priorities, owners and timescales rather than leaving it to goodwill.
Reviewing existing policies, EAP routes and referral pathways so they hold up under pressure.
Follow-up sessions, refreshers and reflective practice for those carrying the role.
Outside the UK
Frameworks and support services differ by country. The British Standard BS 30480:2025 is a UK reference point and is not Australian law or an international standard. For Australian organisations we work within WHS duties and local support pathways; internationally we work with whatever framework applies to you.
Global delivery
Suicide First Aid USI can be delivered globally, but suicide is talked about differently in different cultures, and the services people can actually reach are local. Where we deliver outside our home regions we plan this collaboratively with the organisation or community: language, cultural context, local support pathways, and who is best placed to facilitate.
Next step
We can help you plan prevention, intervention and postvention properly — and train the people who'll carry it.
