Support for people bereaved by suicide is focus of Guernsey event

The weekend event focuses on supporting those bereaved by suicide

An event looking at how to support people bereaved by suicide is coming to Guernsey.

At Les Cotils on 7-8 March experts will discuss how these deaths affect those left behind.

Emergency service workers will learn how best to respond to friends and family in such situations and there will also be a workshop on early actions to prevent suicide.

Anyone affected by suicide is welcome, organisers say.

Sarah Bamford from Talking Benches, one of the organisers, said: "We believe that through open dialogue, education, and training, we can make significant strides in suicide prevention and support for those affected by suicide."

On 7 March, four guest speakers from Suicide Bereavement UK (SBUK) will talk about how to help those affected by suicide and how to support children after such an event.

The following day SBUK will train emergency services workers in Responding to Suicide and Guernsey Mind will run a session on how to spot the early signs of someone struggling and ways to avoid a crisis.

The States of Guernsey said 11 people took their own lives in Guernsey and Alderney in 2021.