"Samaritans stated that firefighters are often among the first on the scene when someone is in suicidal crisis, yet they receive no formal mandatory training on how to intervene."
"Elliot Colburn from Samaritans emphasized that individuals with suicide prevention training experience a significant increase in confidence when making interventions that could save lives."
"Mark, a firefighter with nearly two decades of experience, noted that suicide callouts have become increasingly common, contrasting with his early career when such incidents were rare."
Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have surged, reaching 3,250 in 2025, up from 997 in 2009-10. Firefighters often respond first to suicidal crises but lack formal training for intervention. Samaritans advocate for mandatory suicide prevention training, noting that trained individuals show increased confidence in saving lives. Registered suicides in England rose to 5,717 in 2024, continuing an upward trend since 2017. The government has mandated trauma training for police recruits, and Samaritans urge similar training for firefighters to enhance their preparedness.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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