At HelloHope we’re really proud to run a wide range of mental health and suicide prevention training courses. From Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health for Line Managers and various suicide prevention courses including Suicide First Aid, Living Works’ ASIST and safeTALK, we have trainers across the UK able to travel and come to you.
We’re particularly proud of our bespoke courses. We’ve already successfully rolled some out for the hotel industry, and we’re proud to have developed and delivered a successful bespoke training session for family law firms to help prevent suicides.
Family law can bring teams into contact with clients at some of the most difficult points in their lives.
Our training is tailored to that context and helps staff feel much more confident recognising when someone may be at risk, having those conversations, and knowing how to respond, as well as supporting each other.
Based on our founder and CEO Ellie’s knowledge from attending almost every suicide prevention training course across the UK over the past 3 years, and as a trainer in Suicide First Aid, we’ve taken the best bits from what we’ve learned, researched the sector further and gained first-hand feedback from the people working in family law every day.
Co-producing the training with Evolve Family Law, the North West-based law firm shared their insights to help us understand the situations they face, and how they currently deal with mental health and challenges relating to suicide. We took that learning and developed a unique course specifically for family law firms to confidently support clients and each other.
Delivering the training to Evolve Family Law Firm in September drew strong feedback which shows average knowledge of suicide prevention rose from 4.5 to 9 out of 10 (one went from 2/10 to 10/10), and confidence in discussing and acting on suicide risk rose from 4.5 to over 8. Everyone who gave feedback said they would be likely to recommend it.
Family lawyers often meet clients during the hardest moments of their lives, including separation, divorce, disputes over children and financial uncertainty. These professionals sit with people who are struggling, often before anyone else has noticed.
HelloHope’s training gives legal teams the knowledge and confidence to recognise when someone may be at risk, start a supportive conversation, point people to the right help, and guide them to appropriate support, while also looking after their own wellbeing.
Members of the Evolve team said the course left them better equipped to spot signs of concern, have difficult conversations and support both clients and colleagues. The session also underlined the value of training shaped around the realities of family law practice, where professionals may encounter people experiencing distress, isolation or a sense of crisis.
One trainer commented:
“Ellie tailored the content perfectly for our work. She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the subject and gave such helpful tips.”
“It was very relaxed whilst being interactive and interesting”
HelloHope is now inviting further family law firms and the wider legal community to make suicide prevention skills part of their professional development and wellbeing programmes. Packages can be tailored to an organisation’s needs, from focused awareness talks and lunch-and-learn sessions to more in-depth, certified training delivered online or in person.
Ellie MacDonald, founder of HelloHope, says:
“The day my dad took his own life was when he got back from viewing a new flat after my mum advised the relationship was over.
“This is, therefore, a sector I’m incredibly passionate about empowering and equipping with the skills, knowledge and confidence to ensure family law clients and colleagues are supported through what is often a painful time for people and puts them at higher risk of suicide.
“We do not expect family law firms to become counsellors, but with the right knowledge and confidence they can recognise when someone may need help, open a potentially life-saving conversation and connect that person to further, relevant support.
“I’m so grateful to Evolve Family Law for commissioning us to create this course which their whole team participated in. Their feedback shows the immediate difference practical, sector-relevant training can make. We now want to work with more law firms to build safer, more confident teams and a legal community where nobody feels they have to struggle alone.”
HelloHope’s bespoke family law suicide prevention training session is delivered over 3 hours and can be in-person or online. With trainers based across the UK, we can travel to most places.
Request a quote here or contact info@hellohope.uk to discuss further.
