PAPYRUS
prevention of young suicide
Making sure young people always have a place to turn
CEO Report
PAPYRUS
prevention of young suicide Welcome to the newsletter of the national charity PAPYRUS.
Autumn 2013 no.51 Contact details PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide 67 Bewsey Street Warrington Cheshire WA2 7JQ. Tel: 01925 572 444 Fax: 01925 240 502 email: admin@papyrus-uk.org web: www.papyrus-uk.org For support, practical advice and information concerning suicide prevention call the PAPYRUS helpline:
HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41 Or text or email us:
SMS: 07786 209697 e-mail: pat@papyrus-uk.org Patrons: Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory, Simon Hughes MP.
This newsletter is available online at www.papyrus-uk.org/NL/51 Back copies of previous newsletters are also on the website. Please note, the views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team or of PAPYRUS as an organisation. Any information contained in this newsletter is intended for guidance only and is not a substitute for professional advice. No responsibility for loss occasioned as a result of any person acting or refraining from acting because of what is written in the newsletter can be accepted by the publisher, authors or the PAPYRUS Trustees.
Registered Charity Number 1070896. A Company Limited By Guarantee Number 3555482.
We are ALWAYS looking for people to get involved with PAPYRUS so if there's something you'd like to do to help, please contact PAPYRUS on admin@papyrus-uk.org or on 01925 572 444.
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Ged Flynn writes … Dear PAPYRUS Members and Friends, Christmas and New Year are painful moments for many of our readers. Winter itself can bring many challenges and, for those vulnerable young people who struggle with life in general, it can be a particularly tough period of the year. However, it is thanks to the generous and loyal contributions of readers like you that our HOPELineUK services will rise to meet the increase in calls we see each January. Indeed, the charity’s need for financial support is constant and we are truly grateful for your kind commitment to providing a light in the dark to those who are experiencing emotional distress or caring for a young person who is finding life unbearable. Since September we have embarked on support for a number of new research projects with various academics across the UK. It is always right that we underpin our messages with robust evidence and we are delighted to play our part in advising those who work assiduously to know more about young people and their needs, their pain and what is effective in
young suicide prevention. We are particularly delighted to be working with our newly-appointed Honorary Advisor, Professor David Gunnell from Bristol University, who takes a keen interest in our work and helps us to ensure that what we say is in keeping with latest research findings. Our Area Representatives have continued to fly the PAPYRUS flag in their respective regions. It is good to see this initiative gathering pace. You can read about some of these activities in this issue. PAPYRUS staff and trustees have worked hard over recent months to increase awareness of the prevalence of suicidal thinking and behaviour among young people in the UK and to raise the profile of what is being done to offer hope and mitigate risk. We have had the support of so many people in recent months. Organising and participating in events for PAPYRUS, providing images for posters, sharing personal stories of hope, spending time to fold letters, giving that extra push to meet a deadline, providing
Managing Social Media PAPYRUS Suicide Prevention Coordinator Alexis Elliott, writes … Recent research has suggested that UK teens are leaders in smartphone use and that 95 per cent of young people aged 12 to 17 access the internet (eMarketer, 2013). The same research also found that 85 per cent of young people (up to the age of 35) will access social networking sites. With the internet and social media, in particular, being increasingly popular and more easily accessible, it is important that there are clear and structured ways in which the use of these sites is managed. There have been several high profile news stories in recent months linking the use of social media to apparent suicides of young people. Whilst it is important to acknowledge that there is generally no one specific reason why a person may take his or her life, we need to understand the role of social media and how young people use it. For many young people social media sites are an extension of their personal network. Online they keep in touch with friends, share experiences and express emotions. The dark side is the exposure of vulnerable
people to negative and upsetting comment, which can exacerbate existing thoughts of suicide. It is therefore imperative that social media content and access is better managed. PAPYRUS is working with current research projects into how social media is used and its relation to suicide. These projects look at the use of social media by young people, how it is used following suicide, the effect of clusters, as well as access to potentially dangerous material on the internet. As a result we expect to have a much better understanding of the role of social media sites in young society today. There are simple steps you can take to help keep young people safe, including creating an environment where talking is encouraged – no subject should be taboo. This was reiterated by Ged Flynn, our CEO, on ITV’s This Morning (see picture) when asked about what people could do to stay more vigilant about online activity.
For many young people social media sites are an extension of th
Contents resources to aid our work; I am confident that all such contributions make a huge difference and help us to prevent young suicide. I am always inspired by the work of our trustees, staff and volunteers who try daily to turn the darkness into light. I am especially grateful to the many parents, partners, friends and young people who know only too well the reality of young suicide in their own families and communities. Those who share their own stories of hope show that, with help and support, many young suicides can be prevented. Best wishes GED FLYNN Chief Executive
Call to Action on Suicide Prevention PAPYRUS continues to play its part in this England-wide initiative which has enabled over 50 national stakeholders from across all sectors to identify and mobilise action on priorities; in order to support those at risk of suicide, reduce deaths by suicide and support those affected by a suicide. Moving forward, the Call to Action will be known as the National Suicide Prevention Alliance and aims to engage with more national, cross-sector partners to inform activities and deliver tangible progress.
Social work and suicide prevention
4
Government puts pressure on ISPs
6
HOPEWalk 2013 – a great success!
8
Depressed? Who?... Me? – A personal account
10
Student mental health
10
Frequently asked questions
12 13-15
Fundraising highlights
New professional advisor “I’m delighted to have been invited by PAPYRUS to act as Honorary Advisor in support of your vital suicide prevention work with young people. It is excellent that we have a national charity dedicated to one of the most vulnerable groups in society. HOPELineUK is a vital helpline resource offering practical help and support for young people themselves, and for others, including professionals, who are concerned about young people in their care. I’ve long been a supporter of the work of PAPYRUS and have been in touch with the charity from time to time over a number of years; so I see this as an extension of our relationship. Professor Mark Williams, your previous advisor, will be a hard act to follow, but I’ll try my best.” Professor David Gunnell
Send PAPYRUS cards this Christmas Have you got yours yet?
If you are concerned about something posted online by someone you know, ask them about it. This shows that you have seen it and that you care about them. It may open up a conversation that helps the person to feel more connected to life and those around them. If you see anything online that causes you concern – even if you do not know the author – report it. Most social media sites have this facility and some will contact the originator about the complaint. For further advice call HOPELineUK on 0800 068 41 41. For more information on the social media research projects, contact PAPYRUS on 01925 572444.
sion of their personal network
We have four beautiful designs to choose from. Each card you send helps to raise awareness of PAPYRUS To order cards before 6 December 2013, and our services to call 01925 572 444 or email help prevent young fundraising@papyrus-uk.org. suicide. You can pay by card over the phone or send a A pack of 10 is cheque made out to PAPYRUS to: £4.50 including P&P. Thank you for helping PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, 67 Bewsey Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 7JQ to save young lives Thank you for your seasonal support. this Christmas.
Christmas shoppers Help PAPYRUS with your online shopping by adding PAPYRUS as your chosen charity on eBay or first visiting easyfundraising.org.uk before shopping. For more information about raising money with online shopping, please contact fundraising@papyrus-uk.org
PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 3
Social Work and Suicide Prevention
David Foy BA MA Social Work, PAPYRUS Suicide Prevention Advisor
Research has shown that despite increased awareness of suicide as a major social and public health concern, many health care professionals in contact with high-risk clients are often not provided with the training and professional support necessary to help clients who are having thoughts of suicide. Professions such as nursing and social work have a great deal to offer in the field of suicide prevention. They bring unique skills sets, diverse work settings and person-centred approaches to practice. Social workers, in particular, commonly encounter high-risk client groups with a range of psychosocial problems. These include mental illness, physical ill heath and financial difficulties, all of which have been cited by research as potential
Out&about Our suicide prevention team continues to deliver training and education workshops in schools, universities, young offender institutions and other community-based settings. Some recent examples include: ! Working with the entire Lower Sixth at Colchester Royal Grammar School. Here we discussed attitudes to help-seeking, issues which arise for young people which may cause distress and feelings of hopelessness, how to get help and how to get involved in our work as a national charity. ! Similarly, workshops throughout the day for pupils at Preston Manor High School, Wembley helped not only the students and staff, they also renewed our own team’s understanding of what it is like to be a young person today, how they can teach us about their concerns and what gives them hope. ! By listening to sociology students at Baverstock Academy, Birmingham we gained fresh insights and engaged them in our messages about young suicide
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predicators of suicidal ideas and behaviour. Social work practitioners are, in my view, well placed to identify clients at risk and to carry out crucial interventions to improve outcomes for those affected by distress. However, there is great variation in specific training and expertise in the area of suicide prevention across areas of social work practice. Social workers operating within statutory mental health services are generally provided with the necessary specialist training in assessment and intervention frameworks to support at-risk clients. However, research has shown that many social workers operating outside mainstream mental health services, in areas such as children’s services or adult care, do not feel well-equipped to support suicidal clients. These findings are further echoed by Daisy Bogg at the Royal College of
PAPYRUS IN THE COMMUNITY
prevention. We have also delivered workshops to staff in universities. For example, the Wellbeing and Disability teams at Chester University have plans to build on our recent input for staff and are hoping to link to further training from PAPYRUS in the future. Networking meetings have been very productive over recent months in different parts of the UK. Not only do these events help us to raise awareness of the charity, they also enable the team to make invaluable links with communities and other professionals. We attend events where we can influence people’s response to young people and those who are concerned for their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Recent events included two community days organised by British Transport Police; Stockport and District MIND Family Fun Day and ‘Music and the Mind’ in Preston. ! For World Mental Health Awareness in October, we were at University of Central Lancashire for a community outreach event and in Wrexham at a Professional Networking event that
enabled the team to meet others in the mental health field. Networking opportunities at these events are invaluable in raising awareness of PAPYRUS. ! We also visit particular groups of young people who may be at heightened risk of suicide. Our input at Young Offender Institutes, for example, is always welcomed and, again helps us learn invaluable lessons about those involved – in this case, within the criminal justice system. ! In other events, we have helped train staff and volunteers in suicide prevention by providing training at Manchester Self Help Services’ new project, The Sanctuary which offers an out-of-hours service to those at risk of suicide. The team has also worked with Street Angels in
Social Workers, who highlights the importance of all Social Workers being skilled in tackling suicide, not just those working in mental health. She notes that the majority of people who end their lives by suicide each year are not in fact in contact with mental health services. She argues that a greater level of understanding of and expertise in suicide prevention across different areas of social work is required. There are many high-risk groups regularly in contact with social workers for reasons other than mental ill health. These include young people with a history of self-harm, young people with chronic physical health and young people in contact with the criminal justice system. Suicide prevention training on the curriculum There are currently no requirements for suicide prevention modules to be included in mainstream social work training programmes in the UK. Yet
research has strongly indicated that effective training can radically improve outcomes for clients experiencing suicidal thoughts and can also contribute towards the creation of suicide-safer communities. I suggest that suicide prevention training should be incorporated into the basic framework of social work programmes provided by universities across the country, in order to provide practitioners with a common set of skills. As a qualified social worker I can testify to the need for this provision
within the social work core curriculum. I firmly believe suicide prevention training would be hugely beneficial to all undergraduate and postgraduate students. ASIST is the leading evidencebased programme in suicide prevention and intervention, applicable across a range of practice settings, to provide a common set of intervention skills. As well as knowledge, this training gave me the confidence, readiness and willingness to use this skills set effectively when supporting people who are suicidal.
References Feldman, B. N., & Freedenthal, S. (2006).’ Social Work Education in Suicide Intervention and Prevention: An Unmet Need?’ Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 36, 467-480. J, Lorenzo. A, Levitt. V, Yu. C, Rotblatt. S, Miller-Solarino (2011) ‘Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training for Social Workers and Paraprofessionals’ Journal of Social Work Education 47 (3) Sher L. (2011) Teaching Medical Professionals about Suicide Prevention: What's Missing’ Quarterly Journal Medicine 104 (11) Mithran S, (2002) ‘All Social Workers Should Know about Suicide – Not Just Those in Mental Health’ Community Care Magazine Online 10 September
Blackpool, providing workshops on warning signs, contributing factors to suicide and other aspects, to help inform the invaluable service they provide for local homeless people. We were recently invited to speak to diocesan coordinators of family life ministry under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and look forward to training some of their colleagues in local communities in the months ahead. Interestingly, the Church’s material for its 2013 Day for Life earlier this year included care for those who are suicidal and their families. In recent months, we have also been in contact with those responsible for mental health policy within the Church of England and are looking at ways of working
together to tackle stigma and promote sources of help. Conversations with various other faith leaders nationally have proved very useful in looking at breaking down perceived barriers and issues about stigma. ! PAPYRUS is often invited to attend local suicide prevention network meetings across the UK. Recent examples have been partnerships in Somerset, Cumbria and Lancashire. As new local suicide prevention strategies are launched or are being written, it is vital that they encompass the needs of young people and those who are concerned about them. In turn, this can inform our work as an active member of both the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group in England and the Welsh Government Advisory Group for Self-Harm Reduction and Suicide Prevention. As PAPYRUS members you enable us to speak at national level with greater confidence; it is your voice that helps us to influence social policy and action.
! Our Area Representatives have been busy in their local areas holding fundraising events as well as helping to raise the profile of the charity. Activities have included information and leaflet distribution in a variety of settings from GP surgeries to mental health teams. Some of the Area Representatives have provided SuicideTALKs to students and other organisations, such as the Chester Diocese Mental Health Forum. ! PAPYRUS has also been represented at conferences in Bristol and Somerset thanks to our Area Representatives, providing the charity with a vital local presence and raising awareness of the work we do. They have also represented us at universities, ensuring that PAPYRUS is more widely recognised and ‘opening doors’ to opportunities for training and workshops with staff.
Sincere thanks to all Area Representatives for excellent progress made. If you are interested in representing PAPYRUS in your area please contact Alexis Elliott at PAPYRUS on 01925 572 444 or email admin@papyrus-uk.org
PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 5
Media
‘Excessive’ – one word.
Why the fuss? Interpretation of the word ‘excessive’ has been for some time, and remains, a bone of contention when dealing with media reporting of suicide. PAPYRUS first raised this issue with the Press Complaints Commission (PCC)* in 1999 when the charity supported a complaint by members concerning a magazine’s depiction of their daughter’s suicide. At that time we were invited by the PCC to submit suggestions for amendments to the Editors’ Code of Practice. In response to our request for more sensitivity, the PCC ruled that our concerns were already adequately covered by the existing Clause 5 and that no change would be made at that time. We do believe we influenced a subsequent revision to the Code, which now carries an addition to the Clause: ‘when reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used’. ‘Excessive’ – more than is necessary, normal, desirable, immoderate or proper. We believe that all are applicable. It is now well recognised that publicising
details of suicide methods can encourage imitation and we have for some time lobbied for the removal of the ‘excessive’ word. Explicit descriptions can also cause further distress to family and friends of the deceased. Our concerns are based on anecdotal evidence from our members, calls to our helpline from young people distressed after reading details of suicide in the press, academic research and the views of academics, as well as evidence of multiple suicides concentrated in one area, the Bridgend area of South Wales being a high profile example. Our substantial dealings with media at that time, confirmed that some journalists, in their quest for detailed copy, did not understand the negative impact their words could have on a vulnerable person. Publicity that mentions method advertises a successful way to kill yourself; if a particular method is reported frequently, it can be viewed as a popular or preferred method. A journalist may believe it is relevant to indicate how a person has died. PAPYRUS believes mentioning
suicide is enough, the method is irrelevant. We believe inclusion of this one word, ‘excessive’, is a big issue and continue to campaign for its removal from any future code of practice. We would therefore welcome examples of what you believe to be excessive detail in your press. Please send to pressoffice@papyrus-uk.org or call Rosemary Vaux on 0208 943 5343.
Stop press: * On 25th October the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) was announced, to be entirely independent of all political parties. It is described as ‘a tough new regulator for the press – the toughest in the western world’. IPSO will be up and running early next year and will deliver all the key elements Lord Justice Leveson called for in his report, and ‘will guarantee the British public enjoy the standard of journalism they deserve’. We await with interest detail relevant to sensitive and irresponsible reporting.
Internet campaign
Government puts pressure on ISPs but still no equivalent to CEOP for suicide-related concerns Martyn Piper summarises internet safety campaign progress In July the Prime Minister called on the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and internet search engines to provide better protection for children and young people online. David Cameron said: “Our collective lack of action on the internet has led to harmful – and in some cases truly dreadful – consequences for children. In no other market – and no other industry – do we have such an extraordinarily light touch when it comes to protecting our children.” He gave a commitment that the government would require ISPs to provide new customers with a default-on setting for family-friendly filters, which can only be changed by the account-holder; and that existing customers will be presented with a similar choice in due course. In effect this is the ‘opt-in’ approach we have long sought and this change in government policy marks a victory for PAPYRUS and other campaigners for better 6 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013
online safety. We have written to the Prime Minister seeking assurance that suicide sites will be included in the new filtering arrangements, and received assurance from Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries that this is so. We will continue to monitor the position until the ISP proposals are made public and implemented. Less helpfully, Mr Vaizey rejected our request that suicide sites should be brought within the remit of CEOP – the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. We have repeatedly pointed out that neither this government-sponsored body nor the ISP-sponsored body, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), accepts the suicide sites as falling within their remit. We have asked that this be reconsidered. Indeed Jim Gamble, the former head of CEOP, has drawn attention to the dangers of suicide promotion on the internet. In parallel, the Culture, Media and Sport
Select Committee has launched another inquiry into online safety, to which we have submitted written evidence highlighting the dangers of easy access to pro-suicide websites and chat rooms. We are also in internet-related discussions with British Transport Police, which include the issue of the routine examination by police forces of computers and other e-devices after an apparent suicide. We believe that the incidence of internetrelated suicide is understated and underreported, partly because some police forces are no longer undertaking this task. We have been told that the mandatory examination of computers for all suicides would place a significant extra burden on already stretched police resources, but that police forces would always examine computers if asked to do so by a coroner. This may provide an alternative approach for us. A number of coroners have already drawn attention to the involvement of the internet in young suicides. We hope that some of the research projects in which we are involved (see elsewhere in this issue) will provide solid evidence of the problem.
Involvement with National Suicide Prevention Strategies – ensuring that young people and those who care for them are included in national plans Ged Flynn represents PAPYRUS on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group (for England). The group’s Annual will be produced in November 2013 – look out for it on the PAPYRUS website. There are a number of recent agenda items which PAPYRUS members will be particularly interested in: ! It has been hoped that a consensus statement be produced supported by a range of professional organisations including the various Royal Colleges to encourage appropriate involvement of families in the care of people with mental health problems. This is progressing slowly but is still very much on the National Advisory Group’s agenda. PAPYRUS position Confidentiality between patient and doctor is an important principle. However, the safety of the patient is paramount and therefore sharing of information may well need to happen in order to save life. The Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England states that, ‘there are clearly times when mental health service practitioners, in dealing with a person at risk of suicide, may need to inform the family about aspects of risk to help keep the patient safe.’ Where the individual is under 18, the issue is even clearer: GMC Guidelines for all doctors dealing with 0-18 year-olds state that they should disclose information if this is necessary to protect the child or young person, or someone else, from risk of death and serious harm. The guidelines make clear that the doctors’ ultimate responsibility is safeguarding and protecting the health
and wellbeing of children and young people. ! Help is at Hand refresh It is hoped that a refreshed resource pack for people bereaved by suicide and professionals supporting them will be available for distribution from March 2014. A steering group is reviewing the current resource with people who have direct experience of being bereaved by suicide and organisations which can help us to reach those people. While highly-valued by those who receive it, effective distribution to bereaved families is a recurring issue for Help is at Hand.
In other news … NICE quality standards for initial self-harm management New quality standards have been published (June 2013), covering the initial management of self-harm and the provision of longer-term support for children and young people (aged 8 years and older) and adults (aged 18 years and older) who self-harm. Supporting materials have also been issued alongside the quality standards, including encouragement for commissioning of high-quality evidence-based care for people who self-harm. http://publications.nice.org.uk/qualitystandard-for-selfharm-qs34 Review of emergency mental health care The Care Quality Commission announced in June 2013 that it is carrying out a review of emergency mental health care, following recent concerns about access to appropriate treatment for people with mental health issues. They will be focusing on people’s experience of using mental health services and how their needs are met. CQC’s findings will be used to help them create more accurate measures for assessing whether care is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. http://www.cqc.org.uk/media/thematic-review-mentalhealth-care-announced
! Standard of proof The Advisory Group has been kept up to date with this campaign and has noted that the matter is now being discussed
further by the Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice. PAPYRUS was consulted on, contributed to and welcomed the implementation of the relevant parts of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and new coroner Rules and Regulations, introduced by the Ministry of Justice in July 2013. These reforms did not include a change to the Standard of Proof used in reaching a conclusion of suicide at inquests. The charity has written to the Chief Coroner and to the Ministry of Justice to continue to press for this.
Talk to Me – preventing suicide in Wales Dr Ann John (pictured) writes about suicide prevention in Wales. Ann chairs the Welsh Government’s National Advisory Group on behalf of Public Health Wales. PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is represented on this national group by Ged Flynn. In 2009 the Welsh Government published Talk to me a five year National action plan to reduce suicide and self harm, aimed to raise awareness of suicide and self harm and help people understand that it is often preventable. The plan had seven key commitments: ! Improving people’s mental health and wellbeing ! Providing help early to those in need ! Responding to crises in people’s lives ! Dealing with the effects of suicide and self-harm ! Increasing research and improving information on suicide ! Working with the media to make sure reporting on mental health and suicide is sensitive
Making sure that, where possible, people at risk do not have access to things which could be used for suicide A commitment made in the plan led to the convening of a National Advisory Group to bring together key stakeholders to advise Welsh Government on key issues in relation to the reduction of suicide in Wales and provide an ongoing review of the strategy in light of the evidence base and emerging best practice. The Minister Health and Social Care has tasked the Advisory Group with the initial refreshment of the new strategy for Wales since Talk to Me ends in 2014. At the beginning of 2012 Public Health Wales reviewed the progress achieved through Talk to me and concluded that good progress had been made in improving mental health and wellbeing through training in mental health awareness and suicide intervention and through the roll out of the schools’ counselling service. There had also been some improvements in mental health services and the management of self harm. More recently the publication of Help is at Hand Cymru, launched in June by the !
Minister, will help to address the needs of people who have been bereaved through suicide. (Ed: Our picture shows Dr Ann at the launch of Help Is At Hand, Cymru.) Although much progress has be made much more can be done. For the next five years it is proposed that the action plan for Wales focuses on a smaller number of actions that are specific to suicide and self harm prevention and that build on what has already been achieved. This would not preclude other action being taken either nationally or locally. Underpinning those suicide and self-harm specific objectives would be the strategic objectives of Wales’ mental health strategy Together for Mental Health such as promoting mental health and well-being. PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 7
HOPEWalk 2 Let’s
or our H f t i r hea O
PEWalkers!
HOPEWalk Wirral
This October to mark World Mental Health Awareness Week we launched a series of HOPEWalks across the UK. Walking in hope and to send positive messages to the thousands of young people who may need to hear it most, our HOPEWalkers were instrumental in raising vital funds and awareness for the prevention of young suicide this October. With around 20 walks taking place in just one week. A huge thank you to the hundreds of HOPEWalkers, supporters and sponsors (not forgetting all the babies in buggies, the trikes, the bikes and our four-legged friends) for making it all happen. Now let’s make HOPEWalk 2014 even bigger and better – right across the UK! To be amongst the first to receive information about HOPEWalk 2014 please email fundraising@papyrus-uk.org
HOPEWalk Southampton
! Here’s just a snapshot of some of
our HOPEWalkers but a huge thank you goes out to all our HOPEWalkers across the UK from up in Aberdeen right down to Portsmouth!
HOPEWalk Derby
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2013
HOPEWalk Cambridge
Walk
HOPEWalk Moel Famau
HOPEWalk Widnes
Research Exploring the use of the Internet in relation to suicidal behaviour: call for research volunteers PAPYRUS is collaborating in research by Bristol University, into how people use the Internet for information or support when they are feeling suicidal or have thoughts of harming themselves. For some years there has been much concern in the media and elsewhere that the Internet could encourage self-harm or suicide, some of it prompted by PAPYRUS’s own campaign on the issue. PAPYRUS members have personal experience of the dangers of the internet but there has been little independent research so we don’t have objective evidence of role the Internet plays for people having these experiences. This study aims to find out how and why people use the Internet when they are feeling suicidal or have thoughts about harming themselves, and the part it has played in the eventual outcome for the individual. We want to use the research to make online content better and safer. As part of the research, we will be interviewing relatives of people who have died from an Internet-related suicide about their experiences. Interviews will be totally confidential. They will be run informally, rather like a conversation, and will take place between just the individual and a researcher from the University of Bristol. If you think you may be able to help and would like to find out more about what taking part would involve, please contact Martyn Piper or Ged Flynn at PAPYRUS on 01925 572444.
Online Suicide Memorials: Meaning Making, Making Sense, and Managing Trauma
“
I am still on a high from my HOPEWalk… with so many people wanting to get involved and find out what PAPYRUS does. It’s only just sinking in what we’ve managed to achieve. Next year’s HOPEWalk is already in my mind… it’s going to be bigger for sure! Linda Carter, Gosport HOPEWalker
”
PAPYRUS is supporting this research project which looks specifically at suicide memorialisation on the internet. The study will investigate how the internet is changing the experiences of those whose lives are affected by suicide and how health practitioners can positively engage with the online environment to support these people. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the study has been approved by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Ethics Committee at The University of Hull. The research involves face-to-face interviews with owners of suicide memorial sites and examines perceived benefits of these sites, as well as wider implications for understanding suicide grief. The research team is very interested to hear from anyone with experience of setting up their own memorial websites. Research team: Dr Jo Bell and Dr David Kennedy More information for PAPYRUS members and friends: Dr Bell, School of Social Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX e-mail: j.bell@hull.ac.uk tel: 01482 466304
PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 9
Depressed? Who?… Me? As someone who dropped out of university in 2007 due to mental health problems that had led to two suicide attempts, this period of the year is always a time of reflection for me. Not just on my own personal journey, but on how it can be so easy for someone to become depressed and suicidal. I suppose for me, the best way to sum up the biggest hurdle for a student going through mental ill-health is this. The scariest part of my entire mental health troubles was not when I was discovered mid-attempt, not when I was socially isolating, not when I was medicating with booze. It was when my mother said “I think you have depression”. Because that was not in the script. I was a failure, a liar, a pathetic waste of space that wanted to die – but I sure as hell wasn’t crazy. Being a student can be a great opportunity for all sorts of personalities and interests because as the cliché says ‘you all start in the same boat’. Problem is that if you miss the boat, or accidentally fall overboard then there can seem almost no way out. You daren’t say anything to your family
World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September each year) and World Mental Health Awareness Week (each October) can often give that extra push to universities and others to highlight the availability of helpful resources available to students and staff to maintain a healthy emotional life. Some invite organisations like PAPYRUS to have stalls at their events or to offer education and training. It is no secret that students are perhaps one of the more recognised vulnerable groups at risk of suicide. That might be for a number of different reasons. Mainly, students experience significant change all at once – perhaps the transition from college or sixth form to a world totally unfamiliar to that of secondary education. Alongside the educational changes comes the world of cooking, financial management, and overall independence, a concept that can be a stranger to many. On top of all of that, a student may have moved to a new location where the stress of identifying future friendships can be a difficult concept for those who perhaps lack the level of self-confidence this can demand. For some, university can help individuals identify themselves. It might be the first time away from home where they are no longer governed by rules or restrictions and many relish this. However, some students may feel overwhelmed by the changes and additional pressures, resulting in stress, low mood, lack of motivation and some have thoughts of suicide. 10 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013
PAPYRUS member Chris Coombs writes about his own battle with suicidal ideation – what will they think of you? What will they do when you don’t measure up? You can’t say anything to friends old or new – because to admit being in trouble or depressed is to cast yourself as different to everyone else – and of course only crazy people get depressed or worse – and you know you’re not crazy. You can’t say anything to tutors, what if they remove you from the course, or the university for failing to keep up? This is an incredibly lonely place to be – the greatest irony being that this situation will be played out day after day by so many students – all of whom believe that they’re the only ones in this position. And so from this bubble of isolation and despair – depression and suicide seem merely to be the logical conclusion to what you see as your own shortcomings. What you don’t realise of course, is that universities will have seen this before. They
Student Mental Health PAPYRUS Suicide Prevention Advisor Alice Newton writes: In 2013, the National Union of Students (NUS) reported that a large number of students consider themselves to be suffering from mental health problems. 26 per cent of students were either diagnosed with a mental health disorder or felt they had one but had not been diagnosed. Further, the report suggests that 13 per cent of students have experienced suicidal thoughts. Contributing factors included coursework and exam stress alongside level of performance, balancing study with other commitments, personal problems and financial difficulties, amongst many other factors. The ONS identified that the number of student suicides has doubled in women and risen by over a third in men (The Guardian, 2012).
all have student support in place, be that counselling, facilitating extra time for deadlines, peer support, personal tutors or other alternatives because it is in their interest to have students doing well and completing courses and getting good degrees. It strikes me now, from a distance of nearly 6 years, that so many of these services are only advertised after an initial crisis, so that it is often too late and the damage of mental illness is already significant or in some cases fatal. How about instead, if educational institutions said to students, ‘It’s OK to have mental health issues – and with the right support we can help you achieve all that you want to’. And said it at the outset rather than to someone who is distraught and feels they have no place to go. The old adage that prevention is better than cure applies here; if we can stop the stigma at the outset then not only will it bring it to everyone‘s attention, but it will mean that those in a vulnerable position are able to come forward without shame and get help. And I say this as someone who only found his way out of that stigma after two suicide attempts.
PAPYRUS regularly engages with educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities, to ensure students and staff (both academics and others) are aware of our preventative services. ! PAPYRUS believes that it should be mandatory for all staff working in university health and support areas to complete training such as ASIST in order to be able to recognise suicidal behaviours and be able to intervene when required. Further, academic and other staff should be given mandatory annual updates in suicide awareness to improve prevention and signposting to sources of support, care and advice. ! PAPYRUS believes that university students should be educated about depression, taught about where they can go for help and be equipped with coping skills to use when times get difficult. ! PAPYRUS believes that there should be a requirement for all universities to accept their duty of care and have in place suicide-safe policy arrangements and to investigate the circumstances surrounding a student suicide. This should be applicable even if the young person was a recent student, to determine what learning can be gained from each tragedy and how the university could be more responsive to students in distress.
For more information about how your university can connect with PAPYRUS please contact our Training Team: Telephone: 01925 572 444 or e-mail: training@papyrus-uk.org !
References NUS Service Limited (2013) ‘Mental Distress survey overview’ [online]: http://www.nus.org.uk, 8 October 2013 theguardian.com, Student suicide statistics released by the ONS, 30 November 2012
Frequently asked
Questions
Q: My niece took her own life a couple of months ago and it has hit our family hard. She was a beautiful, bright and intelligent girl who hid her pain from all of us. I am now beginning to be more aware of the signs of people who may be thinking of suicide. I am quite concerned about my daughter. She is 16 and is struggling with her cousin’s death. She writes to her cousin in her journal, which seems to be her main avenue for coping with her grief. She doesn’t speak to any of us about it though. Also, I have reason to believe she is self-harming. What can I do? I’m worried sick. A: We’re sorry to hear about your niece. Losing a young person to suicide is a very painful experience and you might need some extra support around you and your family at this time. We would advise that you encourage an atmosphere of open and honest communication at home so that each member of the family can feel free to say how they feel at any time. You may want to contact a national charity called SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) which offers bereavement support through groups and its helpline 0844 561 6855. Winston’s Wish is a charity for children and young people who have been bereaved; you can reach them on 08452 03 04 05. In terms of ‘signs’ of suicidal thoughts, each person is different. However, some things to look out for are: losing interest in usual activities; changes in appetite, weight, appearance or sleep; heavy drinking; making negative comments about themselves; hinting about suicide and death; giving away personal possessions, or withdrawing from social occasions. Your daughter may be trying to find a way of dealing with her grief that works for her, but self-harm should be discussed. You can speak to your GP about support or counselling, if your daughter feels comfortable with that idea. TESS is a support service for females who self-harm; their text service number is 0780 047 2908. If you need help with how to ask her about suicidal thinking, do contact HOPELineUK and we can help you further. 12 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013
Q: I have recently come out of a long term relationship where my ex boyfriend was emotionally abusive. At the beginning he was kind, considerate and charming, but as time went on he became more controlling and made a habit of criticising me when we were in private. He hid his abusive behaviour from my family and friends so they all thought I was really lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life. Now that we are no longer together I am struggling with lots of emotions – missing him, feeling suicidal, feeling there is no future. I can’t see myself meeting someone else. What can I do?
Q: I’m a gay man living in a small town in the North of England. There’s no outlet here for the gay community and I often hear homophobic abuse being thrown around as a joke when I’m at work. I haven’t told anyone that I’m gay and I don’t feel brave enough to go to a bigger city to meet people. I was badly bullied in school and my self-esteem has been low since then. I’ve recently started to think that it might be better if I wasn’t alive any more. I can’t see myself being accepted by my family if I did tell them about my sexuality, or if I met someone. It’s not worth going on, I’ll never fit in.
A: Coming to terms with your sexuality is a very important part of the development of you as a person. Gay people today are more vocal and ‘out’ in public than before, but some people still struggle with their sexuality because of pressures from family, traditions and beliefs. Learning to overcome these pressures and be safe, happy and secure in your own skin is a difficult thing to do, especially if you are living in a more rural place where there is no outlet to meet other gay people and socialise. Homophobic abuse can be common in workplaces where the culture is ‘macho’ and where people joke about sexuality and sex. It might help to speak to Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Foundation helpline – 0845 3 30 30 30 – for support and advice. The charity Stonewall has a ‘What’s in my area?’ section on its website, so do look there. Also, HOPELineUK is a vital service that enables people speaking to your GP in to seek help and advice for themselves or someone confidence about your they care about. Often, people who are struggling feelings of low self esteem with thoughts of suicide do not know who or will help you get some where to turn. support in place – you don’t HOPELineUK is able to offer hope when it necessarily need to tell them seems that there is none. why you feel the way you do, If you’re struggling with life right now or are but it would help them to concerned that a young person you know may be understand and direct you to going through a difficult time, one of our trained the right organisations or advisors will be able to help. people. Life can be difficult sometimes and knowing Reaching out for help what to say can often stop us from reaching out for about your suicidal thoughts fear of making the situation worse or being judged. is vital – your GP or a trusted Nothing is too little to talk about, speak to us today. friend will help by listening Contact: HOPELineUK 0800 068 4141, and giving you a helping text 07786 209697 or e-mail hand. pat@papyrus-uk.org Opening Hours: 10am-5pm weekdays; 2-5pm weekends and Bank Holidays
A: Emotionally abusive relationships can be very difficult to overcome. They can be very isolating and have a long lasting negative effect on the health and wellbeing of the person involved. People who are abusive in their relationships can often be very manipulative and hide the truth from the outside world, as part of their control over their partner. There is help out there for people in your situation and we would urge you to reach out and get that extra support when you need it most. Relate is a charity that deals with relationship issues, offering counselling over the ‘phone or in person. Their number is 0300 1000 1234. It might also be a good idea to consult your GP about possibly having some counselling while you’re dealing with your breakup.
Help + advice
Fundraising... Corporate Support
! Thank you to staff at the People’s Postcode Lottery We were delighted to have been voted by staff in the customer care team of the People’s Postcode Lottery to benefit from funds raised through the company’s online e-gaming. Charities Assistant, Miriam Morris explained: “Many of our staff have expressed their interest and appreciation of this wonderful charity – we are all privileged to have helped out.”
! Welcome back Gumballers!
PYRUS car into king to enter a PA ! We are now loo ce a vintage ur so you could help the 2014 rally. If contact the e as ple ), 00 £5 s than k.org) or motor (worth les -u us yr ap ndraising@p team by email (fu 572 444. telephone 01925
Earlier this year 20 cars set out on a rickety gumball rally race across France to help raise funds for the Children’s Rainbow Trust, St Luke’s Hospice and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. With the cars worth no more than £500 each, miraculously 19 of them completed the whole journey and returned safely, raising a staggering amount of money for the chosen charities along the way! Our thanks go out to each of the companies who took part in and sponsored this superb fundraiser, which looks set to be even bigger and better next year. It is wonderful that PAPYRUS benefits from this event and that the charity has been chosen as a 2014 beneficiary too. Such support will make a measurable difference to the work we can do in preventing young suicide. Paul Johnson, one of the event’s organisers said, “The biggest highlight by far was the fundraising. The event has raised a massive total for our chosen charities, well beyond my personal expectations and a magnificent achievement – a great benchmark for 2014!”
sts Grants and Tru
! Cheshire Community Foundation With funds awarded from this Foundation the PAPYRUS training team has been busy running a series of subsidised affordable suicide intervention and awareness-raising courses across Cheshire for individuals who would not otherwise be able to access this important training. One of the beneficiaries was Lucy, who was delighted to secure a sponsored place on our Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): “The course was great and I have spread the word through my team as I think it is very beneficial for us.I have definitely used the training more than I thought I would in such a short space of time. Following the training I’m far more aware of the warning signs now and the ASIST course has definitely made a huge difference in my current role as a community outreach worker. Thanks again, the course was fantastic!”
Above: ASIST participants practising suicide interventions
! Monument Trust Since spring this year, PAPYRUS has been in conversation with the Monument Trust, one of the Sainsbury’s Family Charitable Trusts. We are delighted to have been recently awarded funding over three years to help us create suicide safer communities in key regions across the UK. This significant financial support enables us to extend our outreach work, ensuring suicide prevention and intervention support is accessible to more vulnerable young people when they need it most. Additional resources will help us reach out further to the 75 per cent of young people at risk of suicide, who are currently unknown to mental health services. Monument-funded programmes will begin early next year.
PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 13
Fundraising
r stic fundraisers fo ta n fa r u o l al to s S. Massive thank e vital to PAPYRU ar u o Y . rt o p p su g their ongoin
Laura from PAPYRUS (centre) with Myerscough College’s Student Union Presidents Bev and Dara
Here are just a handful of those who have, in the last few months, been raising funds in their communities across the UK: ! Luis De Sousa cycled 100 miles in Manchester ! Stephen Brock and Daniel Swan undertook an incredible assault course in Kent ! Sally Jenkins hosted a Summer Ball in Carlisle ! Victoria Forster and Terri-Jo Gallagher courageously dived from the sky. “The skydive was amazing! One of the best experiences I have had, and even better it helped raise a lot of money for such a great charity!” (Tor Forster) ! Karen Davis held a Pyschic Night ! Colin Looker and friends, Susan Donaldson and Stuart Kime, hosted a Gig Night in Durham ! Nicola Voglar took part in a Triathlon in Cumbria ! Shane Horkan tackled the incredible Yorkshire Tough Mudder challenge ! Susan Edwards hosted held her annual Golf Day in Bolton ! Timmy Hall, Stephen Clark and Gareth Gardner ran the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow ! Carl Humby hosted a football tournament in Leicester
Above: Annielee Kelly (second left) and family with TV star Ricky Tomlinson at the PAPYRUS August Fun Day on Wirral
l on ran the Roya Rebecca Thomps on nd Lo hon in Park Half Marat
Above: Stephen and Daniel’s Assault Course and Shanes’ Tough Mudder (top right) – incredible challenges!
Rosie, John and Rhys completed the Cardiff Half Marathon
g for or planning a future Good luck to all of you trainin PAPYRUS. Do contact our fundraising event to support apyrus-uk.org for ideas, fundraising team fundraising@p collection boxes. publicity support, shirts and 14 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013
Tim and Lauren Urch ran the Bristol 10K
For all our events, please see our website for details of how you can join in:
www.papyrus-uk.org
And here are some of the cr in edible events coming up over the next few months: Maria Martin and Kate Done swam a 5-miles Chillswim in Coniston
Help us to reach more young people by keeping our life saving services running. Just £3 a month helps make a difference to lives of young people in the UK who are suffering with feelings of hopelessness, despair and suicide. Making a regular gift to PAPYRUS helps us to plan and develop our services that provide a lifeline to those who need it most. I would like to help PAPYRUS to provide practical support and advice to vulnerable young people across the UK and those around them. I would like to donate: £3 ! Myerscough College elects PAPYRUS as charity of the year Students at Lancashire’s Myerscough College will be raising funds and awareness throughout the year to help prevent young suicide. Having recently chosen PAPYRUS by vote, the college’s charity committee is already planning its fundraising activities for the year ahead. The partnership was launched at the college’s annual Mental Health and Wellbeing Day where students were able to learn more about the support available for any young person at risk of suicide and how they can get involved to help save young lives. ! Inspiration for Festive Fundraising If you’ve been inspired by some of our amazing fundraisers why not join in with some festive fundraising with your friends. If you like our festive tasting menu we’d love to hear your own ideas! ! Christmas bake sale at work or in the community ! Donations in lieu of Christmas cards or Secret Santa ! Carol singing ! Festive dress day ! Mulled wine and mince pie party To get involved please email fundraising@papyrus-uk.org or visit www.papyrus-uk.org/fundraising for a Registration Form, and we’ll help you get the ball rolling.
an nnock is hosting ! Catherine Pi uth So Walk’ in ‘Out of Darkness Gloucestershire sale t is holding a bake ! Sophie Ellio ing and raffle in Read sis inson and his Oa ! Richard Dick ht in nig g Gi a g isin an tribute band are org Warrington al id is hosting her fin ! Jacqueline Re Aberdeen Burlesque night in ily ater and her fam be ad Le ey yl ! Ha ck wi Flit rathon relay in are swimming a ma
Please don’t forget Gift Aid … simply by Gift Aiding your fundraising you are raising an additional 25p per £1.
£5
£10
£
enter your own amount.
– per month.
Name Address Post code Phone Email For bank use: Please pay CAF Bank Ltd, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA Account: PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) Branch sort code: 40-52-40 Account number: 00009952 Please fill out your bank details here: To the manager of (name of bank or building society) Address: Your account name: Branch sort code: Account number: Please pay PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide the sum of £ (in words: pounds) on the first day of next month and every year*/month* thereafter until otherwise notified. *N.B. Please enter year or month as applicable. This order supersedes all other previous orders in relation to this payee. Signed: Please ensure that both account holders sign if necessary Date:
MEMBERSHIP If you would like this donation to be classed as membership to PAPYRUS please tick this box. Our Members help us shape the services we offer and strengthen our voice as we campaign to protect vulnerable young people at risk of suicide. If you would like to become a member, either set up a monthly donation (as above) or send a cheque made payable to ‘PAPYRUS’ to the address below. I enclose a cheque for £40 annual membership I enclose a cheque for £20 annual membership (students, unwaged) I would like to make a donation to PAPYRUS today and enclose a cheque for £ By filling in the Gift Aid declaration, we will be able to claim back from the Inland Revenue the income tax that has already been paid on any donation you may make.
GIFT AID DECLARATION – I want to treat this and all donations I may make in the future, until I notify you otherwise, as GIFT AID DONATIONS. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for the current tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for the current tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.
Signed: Date: Please Note: Remember to notify us if you no longer pay an amount of Income Tax/Capital Gain Tax equal to the tax we reclaim on your donation. This declaration can be cancelled at any time by notifying PAPYRUS.
Please return this form to: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, 67 Bewsey Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 7JQ.