SOS Silence of Suicide is proud to be working with Next PLC, who have been proactive and enthusiastic in sharing/promoting the SOS’s OPEN Conversations Course internally to encourage colleagues to engage in more open, supportive conversations about mental health across the business. 

The course, launched last month as part of SOS’s 10th Anniversary celebrations, and World Suicide Prevention Day, has already seen over 100 completions across a variety of business sectors and industry, representing 100 potential life-saving conversations. Designed to give individuals and teams the confidence to talk about mental health and emotional distress, the course aims to equip businesses with the tools to create compassionate, psychologically safer workplaces. 

“At Next, we’re committed to supporting all colleagues by providing easily accessible services, resources and lifestyle information as well as creating an environment where people feel they can speak openly about how they’re feeling,” says Claire Kershaw – Health and Wellbeing Manager – Next PLC 
 
“The OPEN Conversations course has been a valuable addition to our internal wellbeing resources. It’s practical, accessible, and it gives our teams the confidence to have those meaningful conversations that can truly make a difference.” 

This partnership reflects a shared belief that meaningful change starts with one conversation, and that when businesses take an active role in upskilling their workforce, they help to build cultures of care that extend beyond the workplace. 

In a climate where 1 in 6 UK workers experience mental health issues each week (ONS, 2024), and poor mental health costs employers over £56 billion annually (NHS Confederation, 2024), SOS is calling on more organisations to follow Next’s lead by embedding the course into their wellbeing frameworks. 

“Every completion represents one more person who now feels confident to reach out, to ask, to listen, and to care,” says Nick Moore, Temporary CEO of SOS Silence of Suicide. 
 
“Next’s collaboration shows the power of businesses stepping forward and taking shared responsibility for suicide prevention and mental health support. Together, we can make workplaces safer, kinder, and more connected.” 

About the Course 

The OPEN Conversations framework Observe, Pause, Engage, Navigate, provides a simple, effective approach to talking about mental health, helping people to recognise signs of distress, respond with empathy, and signpost to appropriate support. 

The free, self-paced online course is open to individuals across the UK, with an extended four-hour business version delivered by SOS’s expert trainers. This tailored version helps organisations like Next strengthen team communication, reduce stigma, and empower leaders to respond with confidence. 

Join the Movement 

SOS is inviting other UK employers to take part in the OPEN Conversations programme, to upskill their teams, build resilience, and help change the narrative around workplace wellbeing. 

Because behind every statistic is a person, a colleague, a friend, a loved one, who just needs one open conversation to make a difference. 

Businesses and individuals can start the free course here: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/  

To enquire about partnerships of collaborations, please email [email protected]