A suicide prevention charity is calling for more parents to ask schools what they are doing about suicide intervention training.

The OLLIE Foundation was set up earlier this year by three local parents whose children took their own lives. Their main aim is to fund suicide intervention training in schools.

They are encouraging local schools to get as many staff as possible to attend a half day SafeTALK training and some staff to attend two-three day specialist ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) to help them spot pupils with suicidal thoughts.

A trainer from the charity, Wendy Henrys, said that ‘parent power’ is extremely important when encouraging schools to participate.

She said: “The foundation feels that the best way for parents to put their minds at rest about their children’s school’s participation is for them to ask the question directly to the school.

“By raising the subject and beginning a conversation each parent can reassure themselves about the safeguarding decisions being taken.”

The charity has also organised a half day of SafeTALK training which is open to the public, set to take place this Saturday (1).

For more information and to book, please click here.