Connections
Suicide prevention starts with connection.
A conversation can open the doorto support. Knowing how to recognise distress, ask about suicide and respond with compassion can help us take that first step.
Connections is Fresh Minds Education’s suite of suicide awareness talks and practical suicide prevention training. Developed in Northern Ireland and informed by lived experience, it helps people build the understanding, skills and confidence to support someone who may be suicidal.
Whether you are learning for yourself, supporting young people, developing your team or working in a frontline role, there is a Connections course for you.
Built in Northern Ireland. Trusted across Northern Ireland.
Connections was developed here, for the people and communities we serve. Shaped by lived experience of suicide bereavement, experienced practitioners, trainers and communities, it combines compassionate understanding with practical skills.
Connections has grown through community trust, public-sector commissioning and organisations choosing to bring the training to their staff, volunteers and communities.
Local knowledge. Practical skills. Human connection.
Our aim is to help more people recognise distress, start a conversation about suicide, respond safely and connect someone with support.
15,905
people trained in suicide prevention through Connections suicide-prevention talks and training,
94
Link Life courses ·
1,247
participants
Department of Health Protect Life 2 progress report confirms Connections Link Life to be the most widely delivered course in Northern Ireland in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Across those two years, Connections Link Life accounted for more courses than either ASIST or safeTALK within the reported figures, representing more than half of courses and almost 45% of participants across the three programmes.
Find the right course for you
Start with awareness, build practical skills, develop deeper professional practice or train to deliver Connections yourself. You can choose the course that fits your role and experience.
You do not need to complete every course in sequence. Train the Trainer has its own entry requirements.
Build Awareness
“I want my organisation, team or community to understand suicide and know how to respond.”
An accessible introduction to suicide awareness. Explore the stigma and misunderstandings surrounding suicide, recognise signs that someone may be struggling and understand how compassionate conversations can help connect people with support.
A starting point for organisations and groups wanting to build shared understanding.
“I want my class or youth group to understand suicide and know how to respond.”
An age-appropriate introduction that helps young people explore suicide awareness, recognise distress and understand the importance of listening, seeking help and involving a trusted adult.
1 hour
Build Practical Skills
“I need practical skills and confidence to support someone who may be suicidal.”
Learn how to recognise distress, ask directly about suicide, listen with compassion and help someone connect with safety and further support.
Link Life introduces the Connections Connect 4 model and gives you opportunities to practise your response. It also explores boundaries and looking after yourself when supporting others.
“Our staff and volunteers need practical skills and confidence to support a young person who may be suicidal.”
Develop practical skills for recognising distress, opening a conversation about suicide and responding to a young person with compassion.
Explore how to connect a young person with appropriate support while working within your role, boundaries and safeguarding responsibilities.
“I need practical skills and confidence to support someone in the veteran community who may be suicidal.”
Build your confidence to recognise distress, ask about suicide and respond with compassion, with a focus on the veteran community and those around them.
Learn how to support a conversation and help someone connect with safety and further help.
Develop Deeper Professional Practice
“Suicide risk is something I may encounter in my work, and I need deeper practice.”
Develop your practice through a full day of learning, discussion, case studies and practical exercises.
Help Life explores more complex situations and gives you space to strengthen your response, consider protective factors and support needs, and work thoughtfully within your professional responsibilities.
Train to Deliver Connections
“I want to deliver Connections suicide awareness and prevention training in my organisation or community.”
Become an approved Connections Senior Ambassador and help more people develop suicide prevention skills.
The pathway prepares you to deliver Connections Link Life and the Adult and Youth Suicide Awareness talks. It includes training, resources, supported practice and observation before approval.
Full entry requirements, fees and the approval process are available on the Train the Trainer page.
A shared approach to supporting someone
At the heart of Connections is the Connect 4 model:
- Connecting with Signs - recognising distress and signs that someone may need support.
- Connecting with Suicide - opening a direct, compassionate conversation about suicide.
- Connecting with Story - listening to the person and understanding what they are experiencing.
- Connecting with Safety - helping them connect with support and steps towards safety.
The model gives participants a clear framework, introduced through awareness talks and explored in greater depth through practical training.
Built around people and connection
Connections brings together lived experience, compassionate conversation and practical learning.
We create space for people to ask questions, challenge stigma and practise skills they can use in their own settings.
Throughout the programme, we emphasise listening, clear boundaries and connecting people with appropriate support.
From a one-hour awareness talk to developing approved trainers, the aim is to strengthen the network of people who can recognise distress and respond.
Connections In your organisation
Help your staff, volunteers or community build a shared understanding of suicide prevention and the skills to respond.
We can help you identify the right talk or training for your group, whether you want an introduction to suicide awareness, practical skills for your team or deeper learning for people in frontline roles.
Unsure where to start?
Tell us who the training is for, the situations they may encounter and what you want them to gain. We will help you choose the most suitable Connections course.
