Autumn Seminars:
Autism & Suicide Prevention
Autism and Suicide Prevention
These sessions are designed especially for professionals working with autistic people, these half-day seminars will provide clear, practical steps for introducing suicide prevention and self-harm strategies that you can apply directly in your setting.
Locations/Dates:
Barrow – Tuesday 11 November 2025
Workington – Thursday 13 November 2025
Duration: Half day seminar
Registration: 9 am
Starts: 9:30 am
Finishes: 1 pm
Costs: £39 (Refreshements included, Lunch not provided)
All profits go directly back into suicide prevention work in Cumbria.
Learning outcomes
By the end you will be able to:
- Recognise signs that an autistic person may be having thoughts of suicide and respond safely and clearly.
- Understand and use plain, predictable communication to reduce sensory/processing barriers.
- Understand autism-friendly approaches to self-harm self-help/self-management.
- Building support in your own setting and know where to signpost for further help.
- Include lived experience in safe, respectful and purposeful ways.
Sessions:
- Session 1: Supporting autistic people who have thoughts of suicide: adapting approaches, spotting risk, and reducing barriers.
- Workshop: Sharing good practice to empower autistic people to share their stories and experiences in a safe, respectful way.
- Session 2: Self-Harm and autism: Supporting autistic people who are self-harming offering practical tools and resources for self-management and self-help.
What you’ll take away
A handbook to support practice in your setting.
Access to suicide-prevention materials referenced in the seminar.
Access & wellbeing
We’ll build in frequent breaks and an opportunity for informal networking. Please tell us about any access needs or any reasonable adjustments when booking.
- Sessions will be delivered by the Every Life Matters team:
Ian Alcock
Ian is part of the Every Life Matters training and development team. He delivers a variety of suicide, self-harm and mental health training on behalf of the charity, whilst also helping create new training packages that can help start more life-saving conversations. Ian’s professional background is that of a youth and community development worker, with experience supporting young people via social outreach, group and one to one support work. Ian has been researching and learning about autism after a close family member received a diagnosis, combining this with knowledge of suicide prevention to better tailor training within Every Life Matters.
Helen Storey MBE
Helen has many years’ experience working with and alongside autistic people, developing projects that empower them to realise their full potential while building understanding, acceptance, and respect. In 2016, she founded the award-winning Triple A Project (All About Autism) and, during her time as Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager at the National Autistic Society, successfully piloted a Duke of Edinburgh Award programme designed specifically for autistic people.
Claire Humphreys
Claire delivers training for Every life Matters, as well as writing resources such as the Parent Guide to Teen Wellbeing and our A&E Crisis Pack. With a background in education, Claire has spent 18 years supporting and advocating for young people. She has been researching and growing her understanding of autism, how it presents in girls in particular and has brought this experience to the new production of our current Self-harm Safe Kit for autistic people.
