Official guidelines provided to workers at Nauru, obtained by Fairfax Media, state that all staff should know how to "cut down a transferee who is hanging". The Nauruan government, which rarely allows Australian journalists to visit the island, described the program as an "embarrassment to journalism". Credit:Angela Wylie So-called "cut-down knives" are issued to staff as necessary, to be secured in a belt pouch. Workers are responsible for maintaining and checking the knife. Upon finding someone hanging, staff are told to radio through a call for help. If two staff are present, one should support the person's weight "to relieve pressure from the noose, whilst the other staff member cuts the rope from around the transferee's neck", taking care to cut away from the knot.

If a staff member is on their own, they must "not waste time" and try to support the body at the same time as cutting the noose. Once the body is lowered to the ground, workers must attempt resuscitation until paramedics arrive. A former Nauru worker has confirmed the knives are similar to this one, known as a Hoffman 911 Rescue Tool. The guidelines were supplied to a range of detention centre staff at Nauru, including case workers, teachers and security guards. They were prepared by immigration officials in mid-2013, when Labor was in power. It is understood they were also supplied to workers under the current Coalition government, including those who are now seeking compensation for psychological harm. Save the Children said the Department of Immigration and Border Protection issued guidelines for dealing with self-harm incidents. It said welfare staff had qualifications in how to respond to such events and debriefing sessions were held afterwards.

A spokesman for Serco, which runs onshore detention centres, said staff were trained in self-harm and suicide awareness, including "how to use a rescue knife". You see people hanging and you've got to go in there and do something Numerous former Nauru workers told Fairfax Media their training for such situations was inadequate. "They say right, if you go in a room and there's a body hanging there, you deal with it," said one former Wilson Security guard, recalling no more than two hours training in such procedures. "It's not nice to cut people down. You see people hanging and you've got to go in there and do something."

Another source said training improved after 2013, but detainees attempted to thwart efforts to cut them down by making thicker nooses from plaited rope or bed sheets. Fairfax Media has learnt of numerous cases of mental harm suffered by former detention centre workers including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and agoraphobia. In a damages claim being heard in the Supreme Court of Queensland, former Wilson Security worker Martin Humphrey Hill says on his first deployment to Nauru in 2012, which began just days after he was hired, he was forced to cut down a detainee who was hanging. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection did not dispute the authenticity of the guidelines. A spokesman said service providers at offshore detention centres were "provided a broad range of guidance" and "must ensure that all staff are appropriately trained and qualified to deal with any situations that may arise".

It did not respond to questions over what guidelines are currently issued, which workers were given knives or the psychological support available. For help or information call Lifeline 131 114, beyondblue 1300 224 636, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800. Loading Do you know more? Email nicole.hasham@fairfaxmedia.com.au Follow us on Twitter