Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with more than 700,000 deaths recorded in 2019, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-29 (World Health Organization, 2019). Ambulance staff are often the first to respond to suicide-related emergencies, yet they frequently lack adequate training, structured intervention skills and crisis communication competencies, which can hinder effective care and support for individuals in crisis (Nelson et al., 2020; Rees et al., 2018). This study aimed to design, implement and evaluate a pilot training program to enhance ambulance staff preparedness in managing patients experiencing suicidal crises.


A four-module curriculum was developed to address key competency gaps: (1) suicidal behavior and risk factors; (2) psychological first aid and legal considerations; (3) responder safety and coping with stress; and (4) crisis communication techniques and post-attempt interventions. The pilot training was conducted in February 2024 at the Medical University of Gdańsk with paramedics and paramedic students. Participants completed pre- and post-training self-assessments measuring their understanding of suicide risk and confidence in managing suicidal patients.


The results showed substantial improvements in participants' perceived preparedness. Mean scores for understanding suicide risk increased from 2.3 to 4.6, and confidence in managing suicidal patients rose from 2.1 to 4.4 (on a 1-5 Likert scale). Qualitative feedback emphasized the practical value and relevance of the training content to real-world paramedic work. These findings suggest that targeted, evidence-based training can significantly improve paramedics' preparedness for managing suicidal crises. Integrating such curricula into paramedic education may enhance prehospital suicide prevention, improve patient outcomes and support responder well-being.