www.alltogethernow.org.uk
All Together NOW!
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022
21
HERE TO HELP . . .
Tackling the curse of loneliness
A FRIENDSHIP service is helping to tackle the scourge of loneliness among people with learning difficulties. Luv2meetU, run by national charity Hft, supports people to make friends and share interests at a time when research shows loneliness was by no means limited to lockdown for people with learning difficulties. More than one in three people with a learning disability – surveyed after lockdown – said they felt lonely nearly always, or all of the time, while the same number said they hardly ever, or never, go out to socialise. The report, Lockdown on Loneliness, was produced by Hft, which supports adults with learning disabilities nationwide. It highlights unmet support needs as a key driver of loneliness, which denies many people opportunities to socialise. Almost a quarter of people surveyed said they did not have enough support to go out into their community. Victoria Hemmingway, from Hft said: “One of the consequences of the last 18 months, is that the unique set of circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a common experience of loneliness. “But for many people with a learning disability, loneliness hasn’t been restricted to the pandemic; it is a chronic and long-term experience.” In the report Lou, from North Wales, shares her personal experiences of loneliness, having moved to a new home in a different area. She said her turning point was joining Luv2meetU. “I felt all on my own,” Lou said, “I was in a new place and didn’t know anybody. It felt very strange and scary. Now I am a different person. Joining Luv2meetU helped me with my selfconfidence and has really brought me out of my shell.” Hft is now calling for the Government to use social care reform as an opportunity to tackle the drivers of loneliness identified in the report. n Hft: Tel. 0117 906 1700
ARE YOU having suicidal thoughts or worried about someone you know who is?
n Under 18 – Freephone: Alder Hey Crisis Care on 0808 196 3550. Or text: the word GREEN to 85258. n 18 and over – Freephone: Mersey Care NHS on 0800 145 6570. Text: the word HEAL to 85258.
JUST REACH OUT A
n If someone is in immediate danger call 999 or take them to A&E.
MAJOR suicide prevention drive is under way in Liverpool after the city saw an alarming rise in the number of people taking their own life.
The campaign is urging people to reach out and start a conversation – whether they are worried about someone, or in crisis themselves. REACHOUT Liverpool is a partnership between Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team, Mersey Care and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. The campaign aims to remind people across the city that anyone can have suicidal thoughts, and that talking about suicide could save or change a life. It aims to raise awareness that suicide is preventable and to remove the stigma surrounding the subject – something which prevents people in crisis from reaching out, and those around them from even mentioning the word. Liverpool saw a big increase in death by suicide in 2020 – which could have been associated with the impact of Covid-19, and the resulting anxiety from lockdowns, social isolation and job and financial insecurity. The REACHOUT campaign is made up of three parts:
n See the problem – raising awareness of what to look out for, including the signs, behaviours and emotions a person in crisis might be displaying. n Say the words and start a conversation – REACHOUT has partnered with the Zero Suicide Alliance, which offers a 20-minute training video providing people with the skills and confidence to reach out to someone in crisis. n Signpost to support – providing information on local services that offer 24/7 crisis support. The campaign also reaches out to people in crisis, encouraging them to speak to friends, family or professionals and letting them know that change is possible, and that they CAN feel better. In 2020, England saw a 6% increase in suicide, compared to the previous year. In Liverpool these figures are even more troubling, with a 25% increase in the same period. Liverpool men are still more likely to die by suicide than women, with four out of every five deaths affecting them. However, during 2020, there was also a small but significant increase for women. n www. zerosuicidealliance.com/training n www.reachoutsuicideprevention.co.uk
Keep talking
L
INDSAY, a 34-year-old council worker from Liverpool – who has herself been in crisis – is backing the campaign.
She has attempted to take her own life on several occasions and is passionate about the need to talk about feelings of suicide – and ensuring people get the help they need. Lindsay was just 14 when she started suffering from depression and anxiety and began self-harming. She struggled until her early 20s, when she sought help and received counselling. Five years later, her struggles returned and she hit rock bottom. Eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital, she was diagnosed with a depressive disorder. She said: “This is such an important campaign and very personal to me, as I understand how vital it is to get this issue out in the open. I feel that many people are still scared to talk about it, but we have to feel ok about talking about it. “Some people think that raising the subject of suicide with someone will put the idea in their head – but it’s the opposite, it gives them permission to talk.”
. . . reaching people who are digitally excluded . . .
