skip to main content

Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training

Mental Health Commission of WA

Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training is based on the premise that individuals at risk of suicide come into contact with workers in the Human Services, including educators, who have the capacity to direct them towards help.

  • WA

Pricing: Free

Origin: Developed elsewhere but applicable for Australian schools

Affiliations: Government of WA

Product type: Professional learning

Contact details

Mental Health Commission of WA
ABN: 98 703 990 883

https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/training-and-events/gatekeeper-suicide-prevention-training/

GatekeeperTrainingEnquiries@mhc.wa.gov.au

Focus areas

  • Grief and loss

  • Suicide and self-harm

Curriculum alignment

Prospective users

Audience: Targeted small group early intervention (Tier 2), Intensive individualised approach (Tier 3)

Context: School or centre-based, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), Home-schooling

Main beneficiaries: Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12

Delivery style: Delivered by program staff

Aims & approach

The Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training Program has been delivered in Western Australia since the early 1990s. In this context, 'gatekeeper' refers to workers who, in the course of their job role, can identify and support people at risk of suicide. The underlying assumption is that an empathic and supportive connection with the person at risk will reduce feelings of alienation and hopelessness and reduce the likelihood of suicide.

The two-day workshop training is free and available for educators, including workers from the Department of Education, Catholic Education WA, and Australian Independent Schools Association of WA. Department of Education's Gatekeeper PD calendar.

The training enhances understanding of suicidal behaviour and equips participants with intervention skills. Participants are guided through effective intervention when working with at-risk individuals who can then be linked to additional support and appropriate interventions.

Implementation support

  • Access to professional facilitator, instructor or mentor
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support

Evidence

The training approach is based on Shniedman's theory of constricted thinking, Interpersonal theory of suicide, and evidence-informed approaches to suicide risk assessment.