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Risky Business: The art of assessing suicide risk and imminent danger - Whanganui

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151 On London Conference Centre
whanganui, new zealand
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TaylorMade Training and Consulting
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Wed, 20 Aug 2025, 9am - 4:30pm NZST

Event description

CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING SERIES
TO REDUCE THE HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE IN THIS COUNTRY A CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT WORKFORCE IN ASSESSING RISK AND PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO SUICIDAL PEOPLE IS ESSENTIAL

This workshop is the first workshop of the Confident and Competent suicide prevention training series.

The two workshops are:
1. Risky Business: The art of assessing suicide risk and imminent danger
2. Custodians of Hope: Supporting the suicidal person

REGISTER FOR BOTH WORKSHOPS AND SAVE $220
Register for the Confident & Competent Suicide Prevention Training Series and receive a 30% discount off the full registration fee for each workshop - a saving of $220

Click here to register for the Confident and Competent Series in Whanganui.

Risky Business: The art of assessing suicide risk and imminent danger

LEARN ABOUT A PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH TO ASSESSING SUICIDE RISK AND IMMINENT DANGER USING A WELLBEING OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK

Research has shown that poor experiences of assessment can have a negative impact on help seeking and suicide risk and that positive experiences can improve engagement.

“Checklist” approaches are experienced as in-personal and unhelpful and a holistic person-centre approach offers therapeutic benefit.

Recent coroners’ findings recommend that suicide risk assessment and intervention training should be a core part of practitioner's ongoing professional development.  The training attended should match the worker's scope of practice.

This advanced workshop addresses the concerns raised by the coroner and is pitched to the scope of practice for clinicians, counsellors, psychotherapists and support workers.

Workshop Description

Undertaking a suicide risk assessment is not without its complexities. One size does not fit all. This advanced level workshop provides the opportunity for participants to depth their knowledge and competency in the “art” of assessing suicide risk and imminent danger through empathetic dialogue rather than a more traditional assessment interview process. 

"The Inquiry report, He Ara Oranga, observed that “instead of focusing on the patient’s best interests, too often clinicians attempt to ‘manage risk’. The results are not always good for patients, clinicians or, ultimately, the community.”   He Arotake ngā Tūraru Reviewing Risk: He kohinga kōrero A discussion paper

Workshop participants are introduced to the concept of The Conversation of Enquiry which is a series of mini conversations that is person-centred and where the conversation of distress is the primary focus of the enquiry rather than presence of risk factors. 

Evaluation of this training indicated that the content of this course is both relevant and applicable to the work of mental health and primary health clinicians; mental health support workers; counsellors and psychotherapists in private practice; school counsellors; frontline health, social service, community and youth workers. Those without previous suicide prevention training would also benefit from attending this workshop.

Topics covered:

  • Overview of the phenomenon of suicide and the 'suicidal moment'
  • What is meant by suicide risk - Predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating risk factors
  • The context of risk - understanding the suicide narrative and contextualising the suicidal thought or act
  • A holistic approach to assessment - taking into account physical, emotional, cultural, socio-economic and spiritual factors or influencers
  • From Checklist to Conversation of Enquiry - integrating assessment into practice
  • The Summative Risk

What others have said about the workshop

“I have learnt more about risk assessment in this workshop than I have learnt from all the suicide prevention workshops I have attended combined”   - Psychotherapist

“Appreciated how you constantly drew upon the participants’ experience.  Will leave thinking / reflecting on my current practice”   - School Counsellor

“Gave me new insights into something I do everyday”   - Mental Health Clinician

"A must attend for counsellors. A rich experience filled with practical examples and learning moments” - Counsellor

"I feel much better equipped to provide support and supervision to my team members"  - Mental Health NGO Team Leader

"I feel more reassured that our staff have both the knowledge and the competence to undertake a high quality assessment that is person-centred and appropriate for the numerous cultural communities that we work with." - Manager

HEAR FROM AWARD WINNING & INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED SUICIDE PREVENTION SPECIALIST - BARRY TAYLOR

Barry has worked in mental wellbeing promotion and suicide prevention/postvention for 34 years at the local, national and international levels.  His extensive experience includes sitting on state and national government advisory committees; designing, implementing and evaluating suicide prevention programs; writing suicide prevention guidelines, training packages and community resources; providing technical advice to community based and national mental wellbeing and suicide prevention programs. 

He has led multiple ‘firsts’ in the context of suicide prevention and postvention both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.  In recognition of his outstanding contribution to mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, he was awarded in 2016 the NSW Mental Health Commissioner's Community Champion Award.  He currently sits on the Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

A pioneer in suicide risk assessment training in this country, Barry's insights are informed by a comprehensive and critical understanding of the research and latest thinking in both the national and international suicide prevention sector.

Drawing also on his extensive experience in engaging, assessing and supporting suicidal people from different cultures, age groups,genders and sexualities,he offers practical and time proven approaches to undertaking an effective assessment.

As a health sociologist, Barry offers an unique insight into the evolving phenomenon of suicide in the New Zealand context and the critical social and cultural determinants that have influenced it, insights that very few others trainers or training programs in this country provide. The workshop is enriched by the learnings from Barry's own lived experience of depression and suicidality and his pathway to recovery.

After a number of years overseas, Barry is living back in New Zealand and is passionate about building the knowledge base, competence and capability within our country to effectively respond to the unacceptably high rate of suicide in this country.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

WORKSHOP PLACES ARE LIMITED. REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Places in the workshop are limited. If the workshop is full please register your name on the waitlist

Group Booking Discount: Book 3 or more participants in one booking and receive 20% discount off each registration

Payment: Payment is by either:
Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard) or 
Instalment payment (ZIP and Afterpay) 
Invoice - Organisations can request to pay by invoice. At payment method click on Invoice,

    Terms for Payment By Invoice
    Payment by Invoice is only for NGOs, Government Departments, Te Whatu Ora, PHOs, Schools and tertiary organisations, businesses.

    By selecting to pay by invoice the organisation agrees to the following conditions:

    1.  Your place in the workshop is not confirmed until payment has been received. Payment of the invoice must be made within seven days of registering to avoid having your registration cancelled. Late payment fees apply.

    2.  A Tax Invoice from TaylorMade Training and Consulting will be sent to you separately which will contain bank details for payment.  

    3.  By registering for the workshop, you agree to the cancellation and policy. (refer below).  Organisations who cancel within seven days of the workshop and have not paid the invoice for the outstanding registration fee are still obligated to pay the outstanding debt.

    Cancellation and Refund Policy
    Workshops can fill quickly. If you are no longer able to attend the workshop please cancel your registration as soon as possible. The following refund policy is strictly adhered to.

    Cancellation up to seven days prior to the commencement of the workshop:  Full Refund less $35+GST admin fee

    Cancellation within seven days prior to the commencement of the workshop: No refund but registration can be transferred to another person. To transfer your registration log on to your registration and update the name and contact details to the new person attending.

    Non attendance:   No refund

    Disclaimer: The information and professional advice delivered in the workshop and the associated printed material is provided solely on the basis that before relying on this material, participants should obtain appropriate advice relevant to their particular circumstance to evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes. TaylorMade Training and Consulting will not be liable for any damages of any kind to any person or entity arising from the use of this information. Your attendance at this workshop reflects your acceptance of this statement.

    Organiser Contact Details

    Barry Taylor
    Principal Consultant |  TaylorMade Training and Consulting
    Office:  04 280 0146                           Mobile:  022 397 9294
    Email:  registration@4wellbeing.nz   Website:  www.4wellbeing.nz

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    151 On London Conference Centre
    whanganui, new zealand