World Suicide Prevention Day 2023

Sunday 10 September 2023 is World Suicide Prevention Day across the globe

It is 20 years since the first World Suicide Prevention Day was launched in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in association with the World Health Organisation. The idea was to raise awareness of the problem world-wide, to reiterate the message that “suicides are preventable.”

Taking time to reach out to someone in your community – a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger – could change the course of another person's life.

"You can help give someone hope by showing that you care. All of us can play a role, no matter how small. We may never know what we do that makes a difference. We all can reach in and ask somebody. You do not need to tell them what to do or have solutions, but simply making the time and space to listen to someone about their experiences of distress or suicidal thoughts can help. Small talk can save lives and create a sense of connection and hope in somebody who may be struggling." International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Powys and suicide

The issue of suicide is as relevant in Powys as it is anywhere else in the world. According to the Samaritans Powys has the highest suicide rate in Wales. “Someone takes their life every 3.5 weeks. We are a remote rural farming community, which tends to get overlooked in terms of funding. Low income, unmanageable debt, unemployment, poor housing & other socio-economic factors contribute to high suicide rates in most disadvantaged communities.”

We wrote last summer about the New Suicide and Self Harm Forum for Powys and the three main areas of work to be followed up by the forum - suicide, self-harm and postvention (activities to support those bereaved by suicide to help with their recovery). 

Welsh Government - Suicide Prevention Cross Party Group

This Suicide Prevention Cross Party Group raises awareness and campaigns on a cross party basis to drive change on suicide prevention in Wales.

National and Mid & West Wales Regional Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Programme

The national suicide and self-harm prevention strategy 2015-2020, ‘Talk to me 2’ was extended to 2022 as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. The strategy has 6 key objectives, including to: “Further improve awareness, knowledge and understanding of suicide and self harm amongst the public, individuals who frequently come into contact with people at risk of suicide and self harm, and professionals.”

Following a recent public consultation on the strategy work is underway on the development of the new suicide and self harm strategy for Wales which is expected to be published in 2024.

Strategy implementation is guided by a National Advisory Group which is made up of statutory, voluntary and charity agencies who are involved in suicide and self-harm prevention in Wales. Implementation of the Talk to me 2 strategy has been split into 3 regions across Wales with 3 Regional leads:

Laura Tranter is the Mid & West Wales Regional Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Lead.

One of the objectives of the Regional Coordinator role is to support the Mid & West Wales Regional Suicide and Self harm Prevention Forum is to support the development of regional action plans that connect national strategy with more localised strategies and plans, across sectoral boundaries. Over the past year the regional forum has been identifying its priorities for the region and has developed a number of sub groups to coordinate action. These sub groups will focus on:

• Children and young people.
• Prevention.
• Lived experience.

There are also local suicide and self harm prevention forums across the Mid & West Wales region.

The Powys Talk to Me 2 Delivery Group works across organisations to bring together and coordinate actions within Powys to ensure effective local delivery of the T2M2 strategy.

Digital hub

The National Suicide and Self Harm Team have been developing a digital hub where users can explore training options, get the latest updates and find out about future events.

The digital hub currently hosts videos and presentations from the Suicide and Self-harm National Conference held on 2 March 2023 at Cardiff City Hall.

The digital hub also hosts the digitised version of Help is at Hand - a guide for those who are unexpectedly bereaved by suicide or working with someone who has been.

Rapid Response

Across the Mid & West Wales region a Rapid Response Pilot has been being implemented since September 2022. This is a process that engages safeguarding and other partners to determine the impact of a suspected suicide and to ensure there is a support system and resources to support those affected or impacted by the death.

National guidance on how we respond to those affected or bereaved by suicide

A national multi-agency working group has been working in collaboration with the National Suicide and Self Harm prevention Team to develop guidance on responding to people affected by suicide. The draft guidance was published by Welsh Government for consultation. Feedback has been analysed and published by the Welsh Government Policy Team.

Powys Suicide Bereavement Service

This service aims to provide early assistance, practical support and signposting to people bereaved by suicide or suspected suicide within the last two years, e.g. support with arranging a funeral, advice on finance difficulties, advise on the coroner inquest procedure, and referral to specialist counselling.

The service can also provide support to those bereaved by suicide historically, e.g. signposting to specialist counselling. You can find out more on the Powys Teaching Health Board website: Bereaved by Suicide or Suspected Suicide Support.

For further information about suicide and self harm prevention across Mid & West Wales please contact Laura Tranter at sshp.cymru@wales.nhs.uk

Other sources of support

Suicide prevention pledge - Mid & North Powys Mind

The Suicide Prevention Pledge is the initiative of Mid and North Powys Mind - in response to the high rate of suicides in Powys. Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under 40.

“Talking about suicide can seem scary and some people can feel if they mention suicide it can put the thought in someone’s head. There is NO evidence of this and in fact talking about it actually helps and is one of the easiest ways to prevent suicide.

We need to make a change. We need to say it’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to not be okay.

We understand it can be daunting to talk to professionals, so the pledge is designed to make it easier to talk to friends and family, as well as to know where to encourage people to get help from."

Sometimes all that’s needed is for someone to listen

The pledge cards can be downloaded from the Mid & North Powys Mind website.

People sign up to support others, and also to contact sources of support if they are struggling.

As well as services such as 1:1 support and counselling, Mid & North Powys Mind also provide courses on Mental Health Awareness and Mental Health First Aid to help people find out more about how they can support people to prevent suicide happening.

Nicki (not her real name) was helped by the 1:1 support service and Mums Matter course at Mid & North Powys Mind after struggling with anxiety and depression. She “also found it very difficult to remember to take medication, and sometimes felt suicidal.” She describes how her life turned round after working with Mind to put coping strategies in place. You can read Nicki’s full account of what happened on the Mind website.

Support after Suicide - North Powys

This is a new support group on Facebook which has been set up by the local mental health charities Ponthafren and Mid & North Powys Mind:

“Many of us have lost a loved one through suicide and we recognise how difficult this can be.

Ponthafren and Mind are helping to deliver a regular support group for people bereaved by suicide."

Face to face meetings are held regularly on the first Tuesday of the month at Hafan yr Afan in Newtown, 7 - 9pm. You can find out more on the Facebook page.

Bereaved by Suicide Walk - South Powys

This bereaved by suicide peer support group walk is on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. If the weather is bad, the group moves to a nearby rugby club for tea and coffee.

This support group is suitable for anyone living in, or around, the Ystradgynlais area, who is over 18, and has been bereaved by suicide. If you are interested in attending you can find out more on the Ystradgynlais Mind Facebook page here.

Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people aged 25 - 35 in the UK. Male and female. Every year many thousands more attempt or contemplate suicide, harm themselves or suffer alone, afraid to speak openly about how they are feeling.

The UK-wide charity Papyrus is there to help.

Kate Heneghan, Head in Wales of the charity Papyrus, wrote last year about her work with Papyrus in Wales to support, equip and influence to help prevent suicide in young people.

Other resources

Samaritans provide a helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And you can find more about the local Brecon & Radnor branch here.

C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service. Anyone concerned about their own mental health, or that of a relative or friend, can access the service.

The NHS has a very useful webpage on Help for suicidal thoughts. 

The charity Mind has a range of information on its website relating to suicide, including sections about Suicidal feelings and Creating a support plan to use if someone is feeling suicidal.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation which exists to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 information.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day 2021

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

This year Saturday 20 November is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day across the globe. The annual awareness day is organised by the American charity the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the day is described as: “an event in which survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through their shared experience”.

The awareness day was originally created in 1999 in the United States Senate. Senator Harry Reid had lost his father to suicide, and introduced the resolution which led to an annual Survivor Day. It always falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving (the 4th Thursday in November) as it was felt that holiday times are often particularly difficult for suicide loss survivors.

Self heal - Prunella vulgaris

Bereaved by suicide in Powys

The issue of suicide is as relevant in Powys as it is anywhere else in the world. In June this year the newly appointed Powys Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Co-ordinator, Jan Roberts, wrote about the three key areas of her work here on our blog. The second key area is: Improving the support available to those bereaved by suicide in Powys with the creation of a new Powys Suicide Bereavement Service.

“The idea is in its early stages, but the intention is that the family or person would be offered practical and emotional support with regular check ins, where they have consented; it’s about checking in and asking what support they need at that particular time. Peer led support is another option being considered in conjunction with the voluntary sector. Health board staff and partners in the voluntary sector are receiving suicide bereavement training to better equip everyone to work together to progress this in Powys.”

For more information on this crucial work, please contact Jan Roberts, Powys Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Co-ordinator, by emailing Jan.Roberts3@wales.nhs.uk

Meanwhile, as Jan progresses work on the new Powys Suicide Bereavement Service it seems appropriate, not just for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day but for any time of year, to flag up some of the resources and services that are currently available to people bereaved by suicide in Powys.

Resources

Public Health Wales has produced a booklet called Help is at Hand for anyone bereaved through suicide or other unexplained death.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation which exists to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide. The charity has produced a Support after Suicide booklet, also available in Welsh. There are also many other resources for survivors on the charity’s website.

The Support after Suicide Partnership brings together suicide bereavement organisations and people with lived experience, to achieve a vision that everyone bereaved or affected by suicide is offered timely and appropriate support. The Partnership has a website with many other downloadable resources.

Papyrus – the charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide – has information on Suicide Bereavement.

Cruse Bereavement Support has a webpage on What you might feel when someone dies by suicide. You can contact Powys Cruse Bereavement by tel: 01686 610220 or email: cruse.powys@btinternet.com

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a website page with Stories of Real Hope.

If you are feeling suicidal, or in mental health crisis, there is support:

Samaritans provide a helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Tel: 116 123.

C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service in Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health, or that of a relative or friend, can access the service. 

Telephone helpline: 0800 132 737 or text Help to 81066.

Papyrus Hopeline UK - prevention of young suicide: 0800 068 4141.

If you have further suggestions for help and support for people who have experienced loss by suicide, 

then please add in the comments box below.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day across the globe. The theme in this 13th year of the Day is “Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives.”

The issue of suicide is as relevant in Powys as it is anywhere else in the world. In speaking to police officers in the local Dyfed Powys force recently I was made aware that the incidence of attempted suicide and self-harm in the county has been rising over recent months. Police officers are often the first emergency services on the scene in crisis situations, along with those from Health. Here in our team we provide an Information Service, not a Crisis Helpline such as Samaritans or C.A.L.L.Helpline, but nevertheless we are still occasionally called or met by people who are extremely distressed and tell us that they want to kill themselves.

According to the Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report 2015: Male suicides in Wales rose by 23% between 2012 and 2013, and rates are significantly higher than those in England since 2010. The BBC wrote more about these statistics here.

The question has to be asked, why are more people feeling so desperate about the quality of their lives that they consider suicide? The Samaritans Report states: 'The causes of suicide are complex, and we need to encourage people to seek help before they reach a crisis point'.

It seems appropriate then, on World Suicide Prevention Day, to flag up some of the resources and services that are available to people at risk of suicide and those close to them. First, though, a bit about the organisation which established the Day originally.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) was founded in 1960 and is: ‘dedicated to preventing suicidal behaviour, to alleviate its effects, and to provide a forum for academicians, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors’.

The President of IASP, Professor Ella Arensman, introduces us to World Suicide Prevention Day with the words: “Every year over 800,000 people die by suicide (around the world)…. We now know that for many people who survive a suicide their main intent was not to die but to have a different life. This important insight should encourage all of us to become more proactive, to reach out and to support people improving their quality of life.”

Resources

Samaritans provide a helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And you can find more about the local Brecon & Radnor branch here.

C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service . Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service.

NHS Choices has a very useful webpage on Offering support to someone who’s feeling suicidal. It starts off: “One of the best things you can do if you think someone may be feeling suicidal is to encourage them to talk about their feelings and to listen to what they say”.

The charity Mind has a range of information on its website relating to suicide, including sections about Suicidal feelings and Creating a support plan to use if someone is feeling suicidal.

Author Matt Haig wrote a blog post last year about the time when he nearly killed himself aged 24. It’s called REASONS TO STAY ALIVE.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation which exists to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide.

The BBC has on online guide called How do we talk about teen suicide?

Further information

In July 2015 the Welsh Government published its Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Strategy for Wales 2015-2020 - Talk to me 2. There are 6 priority actions, including:

• The development and delivery of a Wales framework for the training of professionals, individuals who frequently come in to contact with people at risk of suicide and self harm, and the general public.
• To promote staff awareness and improve staff knowledge of where to go for help and support through workplaces.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is run occasionally in different parts of Wales. It is a 2 day skills building workshop which prepares caregivers of all kinds to provide suicide first aid interventions. There are courses in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in November 2015, February, May & August 2016.

If you are urgently looking for help and advice in Powys there is a summary of the main contacts on our Powys Mental Health website.

If you have further suggestions for help and support for people feeling suicidal, then please add in the comments box below.

Finally, there is further research being carried out which aims to understand more about suicide and what can be done to prevent it. If you are interested, find out more about The Quest Study, which has been commissioned by Samaritans and undertaken by psychology researchers at Middlesex University and the University of Westminster.

Black Cat Project

In July last year I posted about self-harm in Powys, and linked to the blog posts of Black Star on the TOWIP website (The Only Website in Powys) which is where young people in the county get to write about issues important to them. Black Star writes powerfully about child abuse, eating disorders and emotional distress. This week I found out that she is setting up a new project focussing on mental health and young people, and working in conjunction with a nationwide project called Fixers. Appropriately for Black Star it is called the Black Cat project.

Black Star writes: “I have decided to go into the colleges (and hopefully schools too) in Powys to educate young people about mental health, promoting good mental health, help young people recognise the signs of mental health and encourage them to speak up about it.”

It’s great to hear of the new project. We know from calls to our Information Line that there is a real need for more information to be widely available for young people, especially those in severe emotional distress. We signpost people to the Samaritans, Kooth and other support organisations – but how much better would it be if they knew who they could ask for help before things got really bad?

I didn’t know much about The Fixers project, so I checked it out online. It was launched in 2008 by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust. Young people (aged 16 – 25) receive professional support to develop ideas they are passionate about such as issues that have impacted on their own lives. They are helped to set up websites, make videos, or produce promotional material. In return they have to show that they have made a difference to at least one other person.

The social issues which are explored include bullying, child abuse, alcohol and drug use, prejudices and environmental concerns and the videos can be hard-hitting. But they work. They capture the attention, not just of other young people who check out the website, but of wider audiences, as some are featured on the ITV news slot reaching out to over 5 million viewers. In 2012 the award-winning project was expanded across the UK with a grant of £7.2 million from the Big Lottery Fund.

Some “fixers” have gone on to start their own charities and set up websites including Imogen Smith from Bristol, who has produced the Self Harm Organisation website. She says: “while there are support networks out there, a lot of the time young people simply don’t know who to turn to. Self-harming makes you feel very lonely, very isolated, and very different to anybody else. Through a website, I hope to offer support to young people throughout the country who want to seek help to deal with their situation. Also the site will give parents, teachers, and other people advice on how to spot self-harm signs, and how to deal with them.”

So keep your eye out for Fixers on the telly, and Black Star – if you’re reading this, let us know how it goes!

I’ll let Black Star sign off with a question which I found on her Black Cat Project Facebook page (love the emoticon!):

What mental health workshops would you like to participate in? One idea at the moment is a workshop on Psychosis. Any ideas?
>^..^<

U Can Cope

Here at the Powys Mental Health Information Service we are sometimes contacted by the family and friends of people who are feeling suicidal. We signpost people to relevant organisations such as the Samaritans and the Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L.)

However, it is always good to hear about new resources, and I recently found out about a new initiative called U Can Cope. It is a coalition now including more than one hundred UK organisations - from mental health bodies to the Professional Cricketers' Association - formed to spread the message that it is possible to overcome suicidal thoughts and feelings and that there are many resources available to help those who are struggling to cope.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and U Can Cope has released a new film focussing on three people for whom life had become unbearable but who, after seeking help, are now leading happy lives. One of these is Linda Nolan of the singing quintet The Nolan Sisters. The film is available at midnight tonight on the U Can Cope website here. You can also read the blog and more about the U can Cope campaign.