Publish date: 9 September 2021
Starting a conversation could be all it takes to help someone who is thinking about suicide or harming themselves.
On World Suicide Prevention Day (Friday 10th September) Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust is calling on everyone to play their part in preventing suicide at every opportunity.
The Trust is asking staff, patients, service users, families, carers and members of the public to support this year's theme of 'creating hope through action' by making a pledge to help prevent suicide.
Julie Kerry, Director of Nursing and Quality, at AWP, said: "When someone takes their own life, it is devastating for all those around them, including family members, friends, healthcare professionals and the wider community. This year the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is 'creating hope through action' and we want to encourage everyone to think about the role they can play in helping to support those at risk of suicide.
"It might be something as simple as reaching out to those we care about to start a conversation or completing the Zero Suicide Alliance 20 minute training on suicide prevention. By talking openly and raising awareness of mental health and how we are feeling, we can all help to reduce stigma, encourage people to access help and ultimately save lives."
AWP has already received a number of World Suicide Prevention Day pledges, including:
Nadia: "To never give up and always learn more about myself and others, challenge when necessary, keep evaluating, reflecting and working on myself."
Bernie: "To make a commitment to look into how I can offer support to those impacted by suicide."
Sarah: "To support staff and service users in reducing suicide by developing trustwide face-to-face risk assessment training, co-produced with experts by experience."
Robin: To check in with friends and family who may be struggling and encourage them to talk about their feelings. We all have mental health and it's really important to express how we feel so that we can get help and support when needed."
Throughout World Suicide Prevention Day, AWP will be sharing pledges and messages of hope on its social media channels (@AWPNHS on Twitter and @AWPNHS on Facebook).
Julie said: "We'd really like to receive pledges from everyone in the community who wants to make a difference. Please share your posts on our social media channels, using the hashtags #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WSPD2021 and #AWPSuicidePrevention, and we will like and share them with our followers."
Advice and support for people struggling with their mental health.
If you are experiencing low mood and anxiety for the first time, there is lots of help and support you can access online or through voluntary organisations. If you've tried this and still feel you need help, you can contact NHS 111, your GP, or you can self-refer to talking therapies services.
If you're worried about someone else who may be struggling with their mental health, try and support them to talk to you about their feelings and encourage them to seek support. Just talking through their worries may help them think more clearly and help them to access help. The Zero Suicide Alliance has suicide prevention training that is free to access and available to everyone. The 20-minute session requires no special expertise or knowledge and is designed to support anyone who is helping or supporting a person who may be at risk of harming themselves.
If you are an existing AWP patient or service user and in need of help, contact the team outlined in your care plan or the Intensive Support Team identified to help you.
If you are concerned about someone who is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.
The below helplines can provide someone to talk to:
Samaritans - call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for men - call 0800 58 58 58 5pm to midnight
Papyrus - for people under 35 - call 0800 068 41 41 10am-10pm Monday to Friday, 2pm-10pm weekends, 2pm-5pm bank holidays, email pat
Childline - for children and young people under 19 - call 0800 1111
The Silver Line - for older people - call 0800 4 70 80 90
General advice about emotional wellbeing
Resources to support mental wellbeing can be found here: https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/67/resources/4321
The following resources have been developed in response to the impact of the pandemic, lockdown and social distancing:
You can access the How Are You? interactive quiz here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/how-are-you-quiz/
The MIND resources on mental health and coronavirus can be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/
Samaritans resources can be accessed here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/if-youre-worried-about-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak/
