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Lead conversations with confidence. Reduce stress by meeting needs. Support your people effectively.
Develop your current skills and practise new techniques to support your wellbeing and that of others.
Our Effective Conversation Skills workshops are designed to give you the practical tools you’ve been asking for — in a format that fits busy working lives.
Delivered as four focused 2-hour sessions, each workshop can stand alone, or be combined to give your team a complete toolkit for effective workplace communication.
Our Effective Conversation Skills workshops
| Session 1: Building and maintaining rapport Supportive, meaningful conversations start here. Learn how to build trust quickly and create the conditions for open, productive conversations. You will learn to: Build and maintain rapport with confidence Use reflective listening effectively Recognise unmet needs in yourself and others Respond in a way that supports progress In short: Build stronger connections that lead to better conversations and better outcomes.m | Session 2: Developing a resourceful team Reduce stress through better conversations. Learn how to help others move from stress to clear thinking — without taking on their problems. You will learn to: Spot signs of stress in language and behaviour Recognise black-and-white thinking Use reframing to support clearer thinking Help colleagues find their own solutions In short: Create a team that thinks more clearly and solves problems more effectively. |
| Session 3: Navigating emotionally charged conversations Stay clear, calm and effective — even when emotions run high. Learn practical techniques to bring clarity to complex or difficult conversations. You will learn to: Recognise emotionally charged language Avoid being drawn into unhelpful reactions Ask questions that bring clarity Separate the person from the problem In short: Turn difficult conversations into productive ones. | Session 4: Maintaining your own wellbeing Support others without burning out. Learn how to stay calm, set boundaries, and protect your own wellbeing during challenging conversations. You will learn to: Respond rather than react Maintain professional boundaries Use simple techniques to stay calm Understand what you can and cannot take responsibility for In short: Support others while protecting your own energy and focus. |
Why effective conversation skills matter
How would you like to build a workplace culture where people communicate clearly, confidently and with purpose?
Many organisations face the same challenges:
- Conversations that go in circles without resolution
- Difficulty responding to distressed or overwhelmed colleagues
- Stress affecting decision-making and productivity
- Miscommunication leading to confusion, delays, and frustration
- Managers feeling responsible for others, but unsure how to help
- Teams lacking time, clarity, and focus in meetings
Book Effective Conversation Skills sessions
Please visit The Mental Health Toolkit to book your sessions.
Individual sessions, for up to 16 people: £475
Book all four sessions , for up to 16 people: £1,440
What is Rapid Response?
Critical incident and workplace crisis support delivered quickly by experienced facilitators. Tailored mental health support for teams affected by trauma, loss or major disruption.
Rapid response provides you with specialist expertise quickly and appropriately when an unexpected or shocking challenge requires urgent action to manage potential harms skilfully and effectively.
Who is Rapid Response for?
Rapid Response is for when a colleague, team or your whole organisation are negatively affected by, for example:
- A major incident, requiring a team ‘debrief’ to process it
- Business interruption (such as a robbery, fire, theft, flood etc) which leaves an impact on the workplace
- A bereavement (for example, a death at home)
- A death in the workplace (for example, a heart attack)
- A team member diagnosed with a terminal illness
- A suicide
- Bullying, harassment, or assault
- The unexpected departure of a key team member
If your staff members need space to talk about difficult feelings and move forward, we can put you in touch with one of our Rapid Response Facilitators.
Our Rapid Response Facilitators have specialist training and senior experience managing complex situations in the workplace. So, they will understand the ramifications of unexpected events.
Email workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk with a summary of your situation, with the subject ‘Rapid Response request’
How does Rapid Response work?
When you contact us, we will arrange a Rapid Response Facilitator, skilled and experienced in dealing with unexpected and traumatic events, to talk with you.
This discussion is free and used to assess your requirements in detail.
They will explore your unique situation in confidence and recommend what will best help manage the challenges. This may be with one-to-one input or from facilitated group sessions or both.
Following the call, Suffolk Mind will come back quickly with a summary from your Rapid Response facilitator with their recommendations and the costs of any proposed interventions to address the issue, with no obligations.
In most cases, your Rapid Response Facilitator will support you from your initial conversation, through to agreed intervention.
Email workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk with a summary of your situation, with the subject ‘Rapid Response request’
FAQs
What happens when you contact us?
When we receive your enquiry, one of our Rapid Response Facilitators will call you back within two working days for an initial free consultation.
Email workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk with a summary of your situation, with the subject ‘Rapid Response request’
What can rapid response help with?
In the past Rapid Response has been able to support workplaces when they:
- Need safe supportive ‘debriefs’ after events
- Have lost a colleague to suicide
- Have lost a colleague due to murder or manslaughter
- Have lost a colleague suddenly and unexpectedly
- Have lost, or are supporting, a colleague through a terminal illness
- Need to address bullying situations, raised grievances or whistle blowing
- Are undergoing mergers, restructures and redundancies
What to expect from Rapid Response?
We aim to call you back within two working days. The initial discussion is free, lasting about 30 minutes. The Rapid Response Facilitator will listen to your situation and ask questions to understand what you need.
We will then create a proposal of support, including one-to-one or group support, with costs, for you to review. In most situations the Rapid Response Facilitator you have the initial call with will be the person who comes to your organisation to deliver the agreed interventions. You are under no obligation to book the support.
What support is on offer?
We can offer quick Rapid Response specialist one-to-one and group support to organisations after unexpected events; Executive Coaching for Directors and line managers, Emotional Support Supervision for people in demanding roles; Workplace training & workshops to support and manage mental wellbeing in the workplace. For further information on those visit our Organisations page.
What does Rapid Response cost?
Each situation is unique, and therefore our recommendations are bespoke for you, depending on the need. Your proposal will accurately reflect the discussion you had with clear interventions so that you know where the costs are coming from.
Are the Rapid Response sessions confidential?
Your organisation’s contact with us is confidential and we do not share that.
All one-to-one or group interventions are confidential unless something is shared where a person’s safety is at risk. Feedback to your organisation is discussed as part of the proposal so that it is clear to everyone involved in advance.
Will there be a quick response to my enquiry?
We aim to book your free 30-minute discussion with a Rapid Response Facilitator within two working days of your enquiry between Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm.
Will the person I have the initial discussion with be the person who comes to deliver the agreed intervention?
Yes, in most cases, your Rapid Response Facilitator will support you from your initial conversation, through to agreed intervention.
This ensures a clear understanding of the situation, any agreed interventions and how they are to be delivered. If for any reason this is not the case any replacement will be similarly specialist and expert and will have been fully briefed.
Email workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk with a summary of your situation, with the subject ‘Rapid Response request’
About the workshop
This 2.5 hour skills-shop (a workshop packed with skills) introduces families to our emotional needs approach, which can be a practical way of creating and maintaining calm within your family.
This workshop is for parents and carers and young people to work together to create their own action plan for when challenges arise. We encourage you to explore:
- What do we need to feel settled and calm?
- How does everyone get their needs met at the same time?
- Based on what already works for you individually – how can we do more of the things that work, to help us feel better?
We will focus on skills and strategies you already have, and add some new ones too, and work out how you can use them to help you meet your emotional needs.
Young people can work alongside their adult to create a plan together. This can help everyone to meet their needs by reducing stress, frustration, anxiety and worry.
This session includes practical suggestions, working from what is already successful within your family and building upon that.
We are running these sessions in person through Family Hubs across Suffolk. We are very grateful to Axter Ltd for funding these sessions throughout, meaning they are free to all families.
Sign up for our next workshop in May half term.Book your free ticket
If you can’t make these dates, let us know you’re interested in attending by emailing schools@suffolkmind.org.uk
Discover our approach to family wellbeing
Join our interactive workshop designed for parents and caregivers along with their children. Learn how Suffolk Mind’s Emotional Needs & Resources approach can support healthier, more balanced family dynamics.
Take the first step towards better mental wellbeing for your whole family. Sign up for our next workshop today.
If you can’t make these dates, let us know you’re interested in attending by emailing schools@suffolkmind.org.uk
What’s included?
This workshop is a 2.5 hour interactive workshop, delivered in person, which includes:
- An introduction to our Emotional Needs & Resources approach
- What to look out for
- What you can do
- Q&A
We are running these sessions in person through Family Hubs across Suffolk.
We are very grateful to Axter Ltd for funding these sessions throughout, meaning they are free to all families.
Our new Understanding Suicide Prevention: Working-Aged Men course, delivered by Suffolk Mind, will be available to public and private sector businesses across Suffolk thanks to funding from Public Health England.
Book your free place by emailing: workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk
What do we cover in Understanding Suicide Prevention?
- Why male distress can be missed
- How to ask about thoughts of suicide
- How to make safety plans
- How to meet needs and reduce risk
- Apply BSI Guidelines to your workplace
The course will cover the warning signs men may project when experiencing a mental health crisis, and teach ways to start conversations around the topic.
It will also equip businesses with the tools to create effective safety plans, apply British Standards Institute guidelines and provide support to meet individual needs.
We know distress can present itself in many different ways for men – this could be them being quiet, distant or even the opposite. That can make it difficult to know when someone might be experiencing mental ill health, so it’s really important we equip people with the knowledge to spot the warning signs.
Book your free place by emailing: workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk
How can I book Understanding Suicide Prevention
Businesses are welcome to access Understanding Suicide Prevention: Working-Aged Men through four in-person sessions across Suffolk:
Stowmarket on 2 December 2026 – SOLD OUT
30 January 2026 at East Suffolk Council offices – Melton
10 February 2026 at University of Suffolk, Ipswich
11th March at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds
Course times: 9.30 am to 3.30pm
Book your free place by emailing: workplacewellbeing@suffolkmind.org.uk
Why stress matters in your business
Workplace stress triggered by workload pressure, relationship strain, poor line management, redundancies, restructures, financial pressures, or identity challenges can erode team wellbeing, increase absenteeism, and reduce productivity.
Our Stress Management course helps SMEs and larger organisations build resilience and support through times of change.
Delivered by qualified trainers, this full-day course increases awareness of stress, identifies triggers, and equips teams with tools to reduce its impact across personal and professional life.
What you’ll gain
Measurable outcomes
- 100% positive investment feedback, with 90% reporting enhanced stress management skills
- Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 86, meaning more than 8 in 10 people would actively recommend it to friends and colleagues
- Helps cut stress-related absence, improving morale, retention, and engagement
- Fosters a culture where difficult topics (finances, restructure, identity) can be addressed with skill and empathy
Success stories
True specialists and trusted experts… first-class practical training.
Caroline Bellett, Gotelee Solicitors LLP
It will enrich and enlighten the team… help individuals in their private life.
Anki Nordin, Dragoman
Ideal for
- HR teams
- Teams and managers facing redundancy, restructuring or financial stress
- Managers supporting diverse teams
- Organisations prioritising workplace wellbeing training, resilience building, and stress reduction
Our interactive presentation, delivered by one of our passionate team members, is designed to give you and your organisation an overview of our approach to mental health we use across all of our services at Suffolk Mind.
It’s simple and effective – and that makes it perfect for workplaces.
What you’ll experience
- Clear insights on emotional and physical wellbeing, delivered with warmth, humour and authenticity
- Practical understanding of stress versus mental ill health, helping participants recognise the early warning signs
- Start supporting yourself and others with new knowledge to build resilience and reduce workplace stress
What attendees are saying
We didn’t expect to laugh… but it also gave tools to understand their own wellbeing journey.
Bianca Evans, Knights Lowe
Well‑presented with humour, authenticity and an engaging presenter.
Dean, GamFam member
Incredibly informative and helpful.
Bethany Scott, Whitings LLP
I would recommend it to any organisation that is serious about valuing their employees.
Mark Fletcher, Cooper Lomaz Recruitment Ltd
True specialists and trusted experts… first-class practical training.
Caroline Bellett, Gotelee Solicitors LLP
Business impact
- This short workshop is a low-cost investment with high returns. Ideal for SMEs testing workplace wellbeing training before scaling up. Everyone comes away with at least one or two things to try
- We’re prevention-focused, aiming to reduce stress-related absenteeism and boost engagement within your teams, through more knowledge and skills
- Paves the way for further training (for example The Essentials or Supporting Mental Health), enhancing long‑term mental health culture
- Professional credibility. Backed by Suffolk Mind’s evidence-based approach and enriched by the Emotional Needs & Resources framework
Ideal for:
- SMEs seeking cost-effective workplace wellbeing training
- HR teams launching mental health initiatives in the workplace
- Managers and leaders wanting improved mental health support skills
- Large organisations looking for an introduction for everyone at once
- Organisations with remote and hybrid teams – we can deliver online to teams within the UK and internationally
- Away days or PD days. We’re regularly delivering this workshop as part of team away days or development days as it fits into a packed agenda
Covering eight modules over a series of weeks, this course equips your team with practical skills, tools, and confidence to support people with mental health challenges with compassion and competence.
Key features
Impact and ROI
- Over 95% recommend this course with a 91 Net Promoter Score (NPS), meaning more than 9 in 10 delegates would actively refer the course to a friend or colleague
- Real-world results. Feedback from attendees include improved confidence, structured support tools, and overall wellbeing improvements. Organisations like Siemens Healthineers report a deeper culture of trust and openness
- Reduce absenteeism and turnover. Equip your managers or people teams to respond to distress early, decreasing long-term costs and boosting employee retention
Why choose this over other courses?
- Gold standard training: The Comprehensive Toolkit is ideal for people who have a good knowledge of mental health already, or have completed some of our other shorter workshops and courses like The Essentials or Supporting Mental Health
- Depth and breadth: This is a skills-building programme for real-world workplace application
- Complete support toolbox: Managers learn powerful frameworks (for example, APET and RIGAAR) to plan, engage, and support colleague recovery
- Ongoing learning: Includes access to the Effective Practitioner Network and refresher sessions for continual development
Testimonials that speak volumes
Organisations have rolled out training across all leadership levels, wellbeing champions, and first aiders, leading to cultural change.
I wish I had this training years ago!
Andrea Webb, HR Partner at WTW
Structured, clear, and usable immediately. Even useful in youth‑leadership roles.
Caroline Southgate, HR Manager at Beckett Investment Management Group
Choose the right package for your team
Each package scales with your team size, which is perfect for SMEs on a tighter budget that are aiming for high impact.
Base Camp
Perfect for:
Organisations looking to introduce mental health support and training across their teams
What’s included:
Introduction to The Mental Health Toolkit for all staff; The Essentials workshop and Stress Management for managers
Explorer
Perfect for:
Organisations wanting to support their line managers, and upskill teams no matter their working pattern
What’s included:
Introduction to The Mental Health Toolkit for all staff; The Essentials workshop; Supporting Mental Health for managers and E-Toolkit for all staff
Pioneer
Perfect for:
Organisations going the extra mile with the basics for the whole team, upskills line managers, and takes selected team members through our most in-depth mental health course, with continued CPD
What’s included:
Introduction to The Mental Health Toolkit for all staff; The Essentials workshop; Supporting Mental Health for managers; The Comprehensive Toolkit; E-Toolkit for all staff and places on our business network, SuffolkForward
Summit
Perfect for:
Organisations committed to lasting culture change
What’s included:
The Comprehensive Toolkit (8 modules), Emotional Needs Audits and leadership workshops, long-term rollout and coaching and sustainability support
Benefits for businesses
Why invest in training?
- Build emotional awareness and resilience across your team
- Enable managers to support people with early signs of poor mental health
- Drive productivity and morale during change, growth, or financial uncertainty
- Position your brand as an employer of choice, especially among mission-driven SMEs
Start your journey
- Book a FREE consultation to assess your organisation’s needs
- Select a package, we’ll adapt scale & timing to your context
- Deliver training, combine workshops, role-play and case studies, coaching and continuous development
- Measure impact, we help you track key wellbeing and engagement metrics (Summit package)
Overview
As parents and caregivers, we naturally worry about our children – from what they’re eating to how much screen time they have, to how they’re getting on with friends. We want them to be as healthy and happy as they can be.
So, when they’re not, how do we help?
Emotions like worry, anxiety, fear and anger are normal for humans. However, when they start to prevent us from feeling calm in every-day life, we need to look at what emotional needs aren’t being met to find out why we’re feeling so strongly. By identifying what needs are un-met, we can start to explore the causes and only then can we work to improve them.
Our one-hour webinar, Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents, aims to introduce you to the Emotional Needs & Resources approach, what to look out for in your children, and what to do next.
Discover our approach to family wellbeing
Join our short, introductory workshop designed for parents and caregivers, and learn how Suffolk Mind’s Emotional Needs & Resources approach can support healthier, more balanced family dynamics. There are options for both under 11s and over 11s.
You’ll gain insight into what your child’s patterns of behaviour—such as frustration, anger or anxiety—might really be telling you, and how unmet emotional needs could be the root cause. We’ll also share practical, easy-to-apply strategies to help you create a calmer, more connected home environment for your children, and for yourself.
This is currently running as a free pilot and we value your feedback on both the day and one month after the webinar to find out what’s been most helpful. To access it for free, please enter code SMPARENTS25 at checkout.
Take the first step towards better mental wellbeing for your whole family. Sign up today.
What’s included?
This workshop is a live 1-hour webinar which includes:
- An introduction to our Emotional Needs & Resources approach
- What to look out for
- What you can do
- Q&A
Could you be eligible for funded training?
Check our funded training page to see our current grant-funded training options.
Overview
Our Skill-shops for Young Minds are suitable for any school, college, university, supported housing, doctor’s surgery or organisation that caters to young people aged 11+.
We help young people better understand how their brain can react differently to situations based on previous experience, knowledge, and memories.
Content is tailored and includes a mix of case studies, practical activities, group discussions and movement to empower young people to have skills and strategies to look after their own mental health.
What’s included?
- The teenage brain and mental health
- A toolkit of skills and techniques to support yourself and others
- Develop an understanding of emotional needs and resources, and how they relate to physical wellbeing
- Find out about how we feel stress in the body and what we can do about it
- Learn skills to cope in challenging situations such as feeling out of control, managing worry and anxiety, feeling concerned for others or recognising and dealing with feelings of stress
- Understand mental health and how to move towards, or stay in, wellbeing by meeting needs
- Understand the link between food and drink, movement and sleep to improve wellbeing
Enquire
Register your interest, and we’ll be in touch for the next steps to support mental wellbeing in your school or activity group.
Don’t forget to check if you’re eligible for any of our funded training.
The trainer was brilliant – very child friendly and approachable. The information was presented in a way that children could engage with, without feeling it was ‘dumbed down’.
Parent
Very interesting, and no matter how young or old you are it was taught so that all ages could stay focused and learn beneficial things about mental health.
Teacher
The information was really easy to take in but it was very helpful and all the activities were really fun.
Year 9 Pupil
Could you be eligible for funded training?
Check our funded training page to see our current grant-funded training options.
Overview
Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions are specifically designed for EYFS, KS1 and SEND classes.
Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions teach children the link between movement and mental health and how staying active can help them to stay well. Our engaging movement sessions are led by an experienced trainer. They are based on Suffolk Mind’s first story book: Sammy the Sea Squirt, by our Head of Education, Ezra Hewing.
Sammy travels through the ocean discovering new friends, learning how movement helps their brain including their mood and memory. By the end of the session, children and their adults will understand how they can use movement to positively impact and maintain good mental health.
Breathing strategies to feel calm are woven into the session, and movements can be adapted for differing needs. Each is linked with a skill to look after mental health.
What’s included?
We will explore with children how to:
- Motivate yourself to move
- Relax and feel calm with breath
- Remember, learn and focus
- Understand and talk about feelings
Sessions also include strategies and skills to help with feeling calm, plus a link to Sammy the Sea Squirt resources available on our website.
We’ve provided sessions to 600 pupils (and counting!)
Thanks to grant funding from Active Suffolk and the Together fund, we have been able to provide Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions to over 600 pupils.
Louise, our Children, Families & Young People trainer, tells us more:
Please contact our Schools team to book a session for your school, or fill out the enquiry form below.Â
Enquire
Register your interest, and we’ll be in touch for the next steps to support mental wellbeing in your school or activity group.
Don’t forget to check if you’re eligible for any of our funded training.
Fabulous. Would highly recommend to any school! The children absolutely loved it, and the staff were so warm, friendly and engaging.
The content linked fantastically into Mental Health Awareness Day, and although we have worked on this as a school it was great to have a focus specifically targeted at EYFS/KS1.
Teacher
The session explored both physical and emotional needs. The language used was appropriate to the age of the class. It was engaging and informative.
Teacher
Extremely enjoyable and supported us in our wellbeing as well as the children.
Learning Assistant
Fabulous. Would highly recommend to any school! The children absolutely loved it and the staff were so warm, friendly and engaging.
Teacher
