Managing challenging conversations: a guide for FE leaders and staff

This guide helps FE staff recognise signs of distress and respond when a learner or colleague may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. It explains factors that can increase suicide risk and offers clear, practical frameworks to support safe and sensitive conversations. 

It also highlights the importance of staff wellbeing, offering advice on self-care and recognising when to refer someone to specialist support. Staff are not expected to take on the role of a counsellor or therapist, but to offer initial support and facilitate access to appropriate help. 
 
This guide can be used alongside the Supporting learning communities following suicide and sudden death guide (signposted within this resource) for advice on responding to a suspected suicide or sudden death. 

Due to the sensitive and challenging nature of the topic, staff are encouraged to seek support or debrief opportunities after holding conversations about suicide and reflect on their own capacity to manage these discussions safely. 

No additional training is required to use this guide, but staff should feel confident to seek advice or further training if they feel it would support their role. 

This resource addresses the following learning outcomes: