Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Workshops
As part of Devon FA’s partnership with Pete’s Dragons, we will be rolling out their suicide awareness courses to all of our clubs, leagues, players, referees, coaches and volunteers.
Pete’s Dragons have a passion for making sure those impacted by suicide are supported. The Dragons are a team that have experienced the aftermath first-hand and worked together to ensure that all those impacted by suicide in Devon and North Somerset have access to timely and appropriate support.
Their highly skilled and experienced training and consultancy department offers workshops and courses in all aspects of suicide postvention (bereavement), intervention and prevention as well as wellbeing and mental health maintenance.
Zoe Partridge, Commercial and Fundraising Development Manager at Pete's Dragons, said "We are so fortunate to be working alongside Devon FA who are providing us with the opportunity to deliver suicide awareness training to their players and other connections. It is a sad fact that young men are at a higher risk of suicide and opening up conversations, knowing what to say and how to keep someone safe is absolutely essential to reduce suicides across Devon."
Dan Eustice, Marketing & Communications Officer for Devon FA, said: “We’ve been in partnership with Pete’s Dragons for nearly 5 years now, and the relationship has gone from strength to strength. We were delighted to be able to raise £996 for them last season, so they can continue to deliver courses such as the ones below. Our aim in Devon is to use football as a tool to improve people’s mental health, but it’s also important to know that in today’s society, more people than ever are struggling. I lost a close friend a few years ago to suicide, and after taking the Community Suicide Awareness course, it really helped me understand the distress someone can go through, and how in future I could help and support someone who is struggling. We hope that these courses can be utilised by people across the County, to break down the stigmas and barriers associated with mental health and suicide.”
The following courses will be made available to anyone affiliated to football in Devon in any capacity. Whether that be players, clubs, leagues, coaches, referees, volunteers or spectators.
ONLINE COMMUNITY SUICIDE AWARENESS COURSE
Cost – FREE
Time – 3 Hours
Description – The modules cover; myths, stigmas and barriers, helping delegates understand how distress develops and how people can best be supported, and developing common language between community, services and those in distress.
ONLINE COMMUNITY SUICIDE AWARENESS COURSE
Cost – FREE
Time – 3-4 hours
Description - This is a self-care course to increase participants ability to cope with emotional distress or stressful life events by knowing more about wellbeing, emotions and how to share them.
You can view all of Pete’s Dragons training courses here
Courses can be booked by the individual through EventBrite, here
Alternatively, if you’d like to make a group booking (for you and other members within your club) please email – training@petesdragons.org.uk
As a County FA, we are committed to supporting people’s mental health through football.