Papyrus News May 2014

PAPYRUS

prevention of young suicide

Schools team moved to run for PAPYRUS – See p6

CEO Report Ged Flynn writes …

PAPYRUS

prevention of young suicide Welcome to the newsletter of the national charity PAPYRUS.

Spring 2014 no.52 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/52 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.

2 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

‘Change is the only constant’, they say. Change can be challenging and exciting in equal measure.

Whilst we hold firm to our core belief that young suicide is not an inevitability of emotional distress, PAPYRUS is also always changing and growing as it has since its very beginnings.

In this newsletter, you will see many ways in which the charity is changing and growing: regional development, new training being offered, new audiences being reached, new staff to deliver our mission, new members and supporters finding hope and helping the charity to achieve its key purpose: to prevent young suicide.

Change often involves loss. This, I believe, is a common thread in many of the challenges we face throughout our lives – whether because of bereavement, illness, relationships ending, isolation, anger,

contracts ending, internal struggles, new circumstances or a combination of several factors. These are common factors in the experiences we hear through our services and in our training where people are working face-to-face with young people online, at home, in the workplace, in education and on the street.

Campaigning is one area where PAPYRUS, from its very beginnings, has tried to effect and bring about change.

Influencing policy makers remains a key PAPYRUS activity in which we can all play an active part.

In all this, it remains our aim to help young people who experience hopelessness to rediscover their reasons for living.

‘Contact Pat’ Not everyone will contact a helpline by phone. HOPELineUK also provides SMS and e-mail advice

Why do we provide this service?

While young people, and others concerned about them, may need to contact us to talk about suicide and seek advice, it is not always possible, or easy, for them to talk.

Our SMS and e-mail services provide vital communication channels to access support and advice in a way that many will find easier than a phone call. And for many young people today it is their natural mode of communication. It can be done discreetly and in the person’s own time.

Some people feel inhibited talking: others are unable to put their thoughts into words.

Even for those who like chatting by phone, smart phones may be the mode of choice for many.

Whether you text, phone or email PAPYRUS, we will offer you practical advice and support. What starts as a digital conversation sometimes evolves into a phone call at the caller’s choice.

Our purpose is to provide safety-for-now to the young person at risk – whether directly or to those who are concerned – and help them find ways to secure longer-term suicide safety. This may include advice on local organisations or sources of help as well as self-help, information and coping strategies.

We will always intervene to prevent suicide. Where life is endangered this may include involving emergency services.

How do we respond?

This is a confidential service. Identifying details such as ‘phone number and e-mail address are hidden from us. When a new

message is received our system identifies whether this contact has been in touch before. The message is assigned a unique reference number, which allows us to process important details about the person and their situation, while maintaining anonymity.

An acknowledgement is automatically sent with advice that we shall respond as soon as possible. For first-time contacts we highlight our confidentiality and intervention policies.

When texting or emailing you can expect the same level of support and advice from our helpline team that we provide during a phone call.

Confidential e-mail: pat@papyrus-uk.org Confidential Text: 07786 209697

Your ‘LIKE’ could sav Social media is a valuable vehicle to raise awareness, especially among our young target audience.

Our social media presence is growing daily thanks to all our wonderful members and supporters, but we need to reach out to many more people.

Please will you help to spread our viral impact through your own networks, by encouraging friends and colleagues to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Many young people feel they have to keep suicidal thoughts to themselves. It may be that someone who knows you is struggling with life but hasn’t felt able to share this with anyone. We want to reach them so that they can get help.

We also want to reach the friends and families of young people and those who work with young people – they may need our help and advice when supporting a young person with suicidal thoughts and

Contents Without you and your support, we cannot achieve any of this. To all our members, thank you for being signs of hope for others who are concerned about young suicide. To all who support the charity, thank you for enabling us to press for those changes, which we want to achieve to make our communities suicide-safer for our young people.

I hope you will join us at our Annual Conference and AGM on Saturday 28 June 2014 in Birmingham and look forward to seeing you.

I would particularly like to thank our Trustees who, representing the members of the charity, help us to stay on a sure foundation. If you would like to become a member of PAPYRUS, you can be part of a charity which is changing but remains focused … on saving young lives.

Spotlight on British Transport Police

6

Test for clinical depression welcomed

8

House of Lords representation

8/9

Regional development

12

Spotlight on fundraising

13

PAPYRUS Annual Conference 2014 Saving Young Lives

Best wishes GED FLYNN, Chief Executive

NEW STAFF TEAM MEMBERS

We welcome to our team …

Karen May, Development Manager

Lawrence Caygill, Administrator Amelia Woodhouse, Suicide Prevention Advisor Neil O’Connor, Suicide Prevention Advisor

uld save a life feelings. We regularly receive calls from health and education professionals. ! Your ‘like’ on Facebook could be seen by a teenager, struggling with bullying and suicidal thoughts who then calls us and together we help her find the courage to talk to her teacher. ! Your retweet on Twitter could be seen by a mother who is worried about her 22 year old away at university. ! Your ‘share’ of one of our posts … could save someone’s life.

Some people who contact HOPELineUK only knew about us because people like you followed our social media posts and passed our messages on through your own network. Together we can make a difference – and save young lives.

Please LIKE www.facebook.com/PAPYRUSUK or follow @PAPYRUS_TWEETS on www.twitter.com and help us #saveyounglives

Thank you!

Guest speaker: Professor Louis Appleby CBE The PAPYRUS Annual Conference 2014 and AGM will be on Saturday 28 June 2014 at Aston University Conference Centre, Birmingham, from 10am until 5pm. Each year our conference is an opportunity: ! ! !

To learn about the latest developments in young suicide prevention To hear about the latest plans and developments within PAPYRUS For supporters and members to have the opportunity to share experiences and insights to shape the work of the charity

To register for your conference place online today visit our website: www.papyrus-uk.org 2014 Conference costs: ! £65 – Delegate rate

! £25 – PAPYRUS Member rate

We are delighted that Professor Louis Appleby CBE is our keynote speaker.

Professor Louis Appleby CBE is Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group of which PAPYRUS is an active member. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and Director of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness.

For the full conference agenda and to register visit www.papyrus-uk.org For more information contact Lawrence at PAPYRUS HQ tel 01925 572 444 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 3

Media Sometimes we make the news; sometimes journalists seek our comment on a wide range of mental health-related issues, government announcements, independent research and the general well-being of young people. So far this year (spring 2014) media comment by PAPYRUS will have reached a total audience of several million via national and regional newspapers, radio and television.

Every opportunity offers the chance to raise awareness of the help we provide to young people who feel they are not coping, as well as those who care for them. At the same time we raise our profile as the national charity whose sole purpose is preventing young suicides.

The year began with a continuation of coverage on our New Year message appealing for young people in particular to watch out for each other at what can be a vulnerable time. During January our helpline services receive a third more requests for help than in other months.

This caught the eye of local newspapers and radio in particular, with comment from our PAPYRUS team as well as families and friends contributing their personal experiences.

High profile inquests have, once again, highlighted the danger around pro-suicide websites and internet forums. Known for our relentless campaigning for far greater internet safety, PAPYRUS opinion was sought by national and local press, radio and television. Once again this provided the opportunity to reinforce our call for action on this vital, pressing subject of national interest.

Increasingly we are supporting college and university students working on projects and final year dissertations with input and interviews by our suicide prevention team. Many of these are media students; our journalists of the future.

Massive thanks to everyone supporting our media effort. With your help more young people know we are here when they need us most.

Rosemary Vaux pressoffice@papyrus-uk.org or call on 0208 943 5343.

4 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

Out&about PAPYRUS IN THE COMMUNITY

PAPYRUS suicide prevention team continues to provide workshops and training in universities, schools, colleges, community organisations and among those working with young people.

Some of our recent programmes have included: ! Suicide prevention workshops for staff and students in a number of universities throughout the UK, including: – suicide prevention for nursing students at Glyndwr University, Wrexham – suicide prevention workshops for over 100 university staff at Keele University, including guidance on supporting students.

– at the University of West England, staff and students engaged in a series of PAPYRUS workshops, in conjunction with the Students’ Union – workshops to support staff at Edge Hill University. ! interviews for university radio stations about our training and services. ! A keynote presentation at the Manchester Student Mental Health Forum which was attended by three local universities as well as local NHS partners.

Working in schools and colleges, the team provided education and training to a wide range of providers. Myerscough College, Preston chose PAPYRUS as its Charity of the Year and invited us to deliver a series of bespoke training days to students and support staff. ! Health and Wellbeing Days enabled the team to speak to more students about the work we do. These included: – Suicide prevention training for pastoral leads at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldsley.

– A workshop for pastoral staff at Bolton College during a staff development day.

– At Central Sussex College, mentoring staff learnt how to identify a student who may be potentially at risk.

– In-depth training for school nurses from the Independent School Nurses Forum who met at Kings School Chester – with more sessions in the pipeline.

– Rolling workshops and open forum for parents at Wirral Grammar School for Girls’ Parents Evening.

– A talk session with young people and staff from St Monica’s Youth Group in Flixton.

! ASIST training was delivered to Church in Wales clergy from Llandaff Diocese and regional contacts from various sectors in Newcastle upon Tyne. More recently, we ran ASIST in Warrington for those living and working within Cheshire.

This was funded by the Cheshire Community Foundation. The feedback has been fantastic from all courses and we hope to be running more in due course.

We also ran an ASIST TuneUp for those trained by PAPYRUS in the ASIST model over the past two years. Attendees welcomed the opportunity to refresh skills and meet others similarly trained. As a result we extended our community of people who are more ready, willing and able to intervene and help us to save young lives.

Other activities included: ! Speaking at the ASIST Trainers Conference in Cardiff about our experience of using the ASIST model in our day to day prevention work. ! Delivering suicide prevention training to the Early Intervention Service in Psychosis in Brent and workshops for Aspire Housing staff in Staffordshire.

The focus here was managing potentially suicidal clients, awareness of warning signs and potential places for help. ! In Abingdon, delivering a suicideTALK to members of the community and parish.

This helped to provide grounding for future parish work, at the same time raising awareness of the vital work we do. ! Workshops to Fosterline in Liverpool, working with foster carers who have responsibility for vulnerable young people.

Already this year we have addressed several national and regional conferences, on mental health, self-harm reduction, suicide prevention and working with young people.

Alcohol and suicidal thinking UK Statistics (2012, ONS) The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England identifies those who misuse drugs and alcohol among those groups for whom a tailored approach to their mental health is necessary if their suicide risk is to be reduced.

Alcohol, being a depressant, can influence an individual’s vulnerability and contribute to suicidal behaviours. When a person is having thoughts of suicide, it is always important to caution against unsafe use of drugs and alcohol.

The Department of Health estimates that the harmful use of alcohol consumption costs the NHS in England around £3.5 billon a year with over 8% of all admissions being related to alcohol. Drinking alcohol has been linked to over 40 diseases, such as stroke and cancer, and as such has been highlighted by the Government as a priority in an aim to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2013) states that approximately 1 in 3 men and 1 in 6 women will develop some sort of health problem caused by alcohol and when considering dependency, this equates to around 1 in 11 men and 1 in 25 women who become physically dependent on alcohol.

Alcohol and Mental health Alcohol affects the chemistry of the brain and can lead to a number of issues including psychosis, dementia and physical health problems. There is also an increased risk of depression.

Some may turn to alcohol to reduce anxiety or boost their mood. In fact, alcohol can make things worse, reducing inhibition and giving a false sense of stability.

In the UK around a third of 15-16 year olds binge-drink regularly – more than in most other European countries.

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, approximately a third of young suicides had consumed alcohol before their death.

Concerned?

You may be

! 8,367 alcohol-related deaths in the UK ! Scotland was the only UK constituent country where alcohol related death rates were significantly lower in 2012 than in 2002 ! Alcohol related deaths were significantly higher in Wales than England ! Males accounted for approximately 65% of all alcohol-related deaths in the UK ! 92,220 young people aged under 18 years old were admitted to hospital in England for alcohol-related conditions between 2002-2009 – approximately 36 young people per day ! Young people are the highest group to have drunk very heavily (more than 12 units for men and 9 units for women) at least once during the week (27%) of the whole population of the UK

– planning social activities around alcohol – finding it difficult to stop drinking – drinking in the morning – drinking alcohol as an ‘escape’ If you have alcohol concerns, seek help and advice from your GP or get help from one of these organisations: Al Anon offers support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk Helpline 020 7403 0888 Alcoholics Anonymous for anyone who thinks they have a drinking problem http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Helpline 0845 769 7555 Drinkline runs a free, confidential helpline for people concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking Helpline 0800 917 8282

PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 5

Spotlight on

British Transport P Mark Smith, BTP Suicide Prevention Lead writes: “British Transport Police (BTP) has been working proactively in the field of suicide prevention since 2009.

We have been working with a number of partners which include the rail industry, the voluntary sector and health and social care, with the key aim of trying to prevent vulnerable people from seeking to take their own lives on the railway system.

Each year there are some 3000 suicidal incidents on our railways, which in recent years have included some 300 suspected suicides, 100 attempted suicides that led to injury, 300 attempts where there was no injury and often a life-saving intervention was involved, and some 2300 pre-suicidal incidents.

BTP works closely with Network Rail, London Underground, Train Operating Companies and the Samaritans to identify vulnerable locations on the Network where physical prevention measures can be employed.

Some early successes have been achieved in this area.

BTP has also formed two units whose task it is to deal with vulnerable and suicidal people through effective interventions and referrals into health and social care services. These are joint BTP and NHS teams funded through rail industry, NHS and Department of Health support.

There is a London unit which has been operating since February 2013 and a new Birmingham based unit which is one of the new Street Triage pilots.

The whole idea is to get police and health working together, sharing information and make joint risk based decisions to move people from crisis to care.

Part of our intervention and referral process is to consider 3rd party referrals to key voluntary agencies. So far we have such arrangements in place with PAPYRUS, Samaritans and Maytree.

These referral protocols are a key part of

our risk based approach and allow us to pass vulnerable people onto the support agencies that can provide the most appropriate advice and support.

We have a number of examples of positive life-changing outcomes from these referrals and we greatly value our relationships with the voluntary sector.”

Alexis Elliott, PAPRYUS Suicide Prevention Coordinator, adds: PAPYRUS has, for some time, been in discussions with BTP about various aspects of young suicide prevention, including issues such as police investigations, social media concerns and family liaison.

Over recent months, PAPYRUS has been developing further links with British Transport Police. We have been piloting a scheme which sees the London and South East region of BTP referring vulnerable young people with whom they have had recent contact (and their

15 minute interview

School support As someone who works with students aged 11-16, what are the key issues you see facing today’s young people?

I suspect that the pressures facing young people have changed little in 20-30 years but their approach may be somewhat different. The transition to adulthood is always fraught with complex emotions and pressures.

Today’s 'instant generation’ seems to have less time to process things: everything is accessible 24/7 and seems available immediately. As a result some get very little or irregular sleep which can affect existing challenges such as self-esteem, exams or relationships.

What can schools do to help students develop their emotional resistance and know where to find help if they need it?

There are a number of ways. A robust programme of PHSE (Personal, Health and Social Education) can help.

The world can be a dangerous place 6 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

Marcus, a teacher from Eastbourne, talks to us about why he supports PAPYRUS

but there are some things you simply have to deal with. Schools should make information, contact numbers and websites for charities and help services like PAPYRUS more widely available.

short while in a psychiatric ward and is now making a good recovery with the support of her family and friends. It became incredibly obvious and important why we were trying to raise money for PAPYRUS.

What attracted you to support PAPYRUS with your fundraising?

How did the team respond to the challenge?

I had been told about your charity through a work colleague. Her son had had some difficulties and she had found the charity very useful. I have always had it in my mind to do more to support PAPYRUS. When a student from my last year group took her own life in October 2013, I was moved to question what kind of support might have made a difference. I had planned to run the Eastbourne Half Marathon in 2014. This young woman’s death and, indeed, the deaths of several others over the years prompted me to run for PAPYRUS. Whilst we were running, one of the young people previously in my year group, had become ill and had tried to end her life. She spent a

As the winter months approached and the rain persisted, we dwindled to 12 and a few late entries. Some had been training a little more than others but all were there at the start of the 13.1 miles. They were an enormous support to me. I guess we supported each other.

What did this fundraising mean to the group?

It meant a huge deal to all of us. It was a real motivation to see the money coming in. We all had a variety of reasons for taking on this challenge but our combined effort gave us one central purpose. We felt incredibly proud to have achieved what we did.

Self-harm and suicide in prisons

t Police

Rosemary Vaux reports on a recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Group

families) to our HOPELineUK service as a follow-up prevention measure.

To date, the service has been well used and our professional advisors have been to several events with BTP staff and others to help raise awareness of the referral system and how it is to be used by their officers.

In the coming year we are hopeful that this arrangement will extend to other BTP regions, enabling us to reach more young people who are at risk.

Our Training Team has been working with Greater Manchester Police, supporting some 200 Response Officers in suicide prevention/awareness education, focused on the needs of young people.

Chief Inspector O’Neil stated that the training sessions had been “overwhelmingly positive” for those who had taken part.

“The referral system is especially important for us in the Public Protection Unit as it means we can provide support and signposting for those we come into contact with. It is reassuring to know that we can ask PAPYRUS for expert advice and support for young people we are concerned about who may be at risk of suicide.”

Sergeant Tara Doyle, Public Protection Unit, BT Police, London

Marcus Cherril and supporters completing the Eastbourne Half Marathon.

PAPYRUS in education ened my eyes.

“This session really op prevention suicide I feel that young d great sensitivity an was treated with esentation was the interactive pr .” Senior Teacher really informative erseyside Carmel College, M

“PAPYRUS has really helped us and our students. Plea se do let your team know that they are great an d we appreciate th eir assistance.”

Studen

t Centre Adviso r The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London

PAPYRUS attends APPG meetings at the Palace of Westminster. A recent meeting considered key issues for treatment and prevention of self-harm and suicide in prisons.

The speakers were Professor Keith Hawton, Psychiatry Professor at the University of Oxford, Dr Seena Fazel a Research Fellow at Oxford and Dr Lisa Marzano, Psychology Lecturer at Middlesex University.

In a recent study of self-harm episodes in all prisons in England and Wales from January 2004 to December 2009* the total proportion of male prisoners self-harming each year during this period was estimated to be 5-6%. The equivalent proportion of female prisoners was estimated to be 20-24%. The total number of self-harm incidents was 139,195 involving 26,510 separate prisoners.

Prisoners most at risk of self-harm are those being under 20 years of age, white, un-sentenced and those who are on a life sentence. Men in high security prisons are at a higher risk; women in mixed local prisons or who have previously committed a violent offence are also at a higher risk. The study also revealed that prisoners who have previously self-harmed are at a higher risk of suicide.

Presenting studies of near-lethal suicide attempts, Dr Lisa Marzano said factors associated with prisoners who made nearlethal attempts were being below the age of 30, white, based on a normal wing location and having a high level of suicidal intent. All women and 97% of men in this study had previously self-harmed. There were more female prisoners involved in high levels of repetition of self-harm.

Dr Fazel presented possible approaches for the prevention of suicide and self-harm. These included ‘before prison’ screening, predicting groups at high risk, reducing access to means, interventions before and after imprisonment and strengthening suicide prevention training for prison officers. Also recommended were improving treatment for repetitive self-harmers and improving the availability of psychological therapies including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Professor Hawton highlighted the importance of maintaining funding streams for research in this area. *(published in the Lancet in December 2013 and co-authored by Professor Hawton and Dr Fazel) PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 7

Report into young suicides in Wales published Thematic review of young deaths through probable suicide, 2006-2012 A report published on 20 March 2014 reviewing deaths through suicide in children and young people in Wales called for more to be done to ensure NICE guidance is implemented on the management of self harm.

PAPYRUS was part of the review panel which produced the report.

Other key recommendations of the review include; developing an all-Wales child protection register, which would be accessible by all relevant services; restricting access to alcohol by young people; ensuring any programmes and interventions around suicide prevention are based on the latest evidence; and reviewing progress on suicide prevention on a three yearly basis.

The report highlighted that, although rare, suicide is a major cause of death in teenage years, with around one in four external cause deaths of children aged 12-17 likely to have been a suicide. The report has been published by the Child Death Review Programme – part of Public Health Wales – and reviewed 34 probable

suicides in children and young people in Wales over a six year period.

The report examined factors that have contributed to suicide deaths in children and young people, identified opportunities for prevention, and made recommendations to reduce the risk of suicide for children and young people in Wales.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The death of a child, whatever the circumstances, is a particularly tragic event and one which affects friends, family and the wider community.

Dr Ann John, Consultant in public health for Public Health Wales and Associate Professor at Swansea University said: "Understanding the circumstances surrounding a child's death can help people begin to make sense of the tragedy and may help to prevent the deaths of other children.

You can download the report from our website by visiting http://www.new.papyrus-uk.org /more/news/689

Research First biological test for clinical depression Several readers alerted us to this new scientific development, some expressing their wish that it had been available for some years.

This article published in The Daily Telegraph, 17 February is reprinted with kind permission of Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent.

The first biological test for clinical depression has been developed by scientists.

Researchers found that teenage boys who had depressive symptoms and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol were 14 times more likely to be clinically 8 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

On 27 February 2014, the former Anglican Primate of All Ireland, Lord Robert Eames, secured a debate in the House of Lords on Young suicide prevention.

PAPYRUS was asked to inform the opening contribution during which Lord Eames stated that “In Northern Ireland, since the signing of the Belfast agreement, the number of suicides almost equals the number of killings during the years of our Troubles. Professor Tomlinson of Queen’s University has concluded that the steep increase in the Province’s suicide figures is accounted for in part by those who lived through the Troubles as children in the 1970s — some of the worst years of our violence. These are truly shocking figures.

Last week’s release of the latest UK suicide statistics shows a welcome decrease in the number of young people under the age of 35 who took their own lives during 2012 compared with the previous year: 1,625 compared with 1,746 in 2011.

Taken against the figures for suicide in the United Kingdom as a whole across all age groups, it might seem as if I am asking noble Lords to consider a small proportion of this tragic problem.

However, any of us here or further afield who in our professional lives have seen first-hand the emotions of parents and families where a young

depressed than those who show either trait.

Cambridge University said the findings provide the first biological signpost for the illness.

They argue that this could help identify those boys in particular at greatest risk of developing the illness and provide treatment at an earlier stage.

Major, or clinical, depression is a debilitating mental health problem that will affect one in six people at some point in their lives. However, until now there have been no biomarkers for major depression; this is believed to be, in part, because both the causes and the symptoms can be so varied.

Study leader Professor Ian Goodyer, of Cambridge University, said: “Depression is a terrible illness that will affect as many as 10 million people in the UK at some point in their lives.

“Through our research, we now have a very real way of identifying those teenage boys most likely to develop clinical depression. This will help us

strategically target preventions and interventions at these individuals and hopefully help reduce their risk of serious episodes of depression and their consequences in adult life.”

The study’s first author Dr Matthew Owens added: “This new biomarker suggests that we may be able to offer a more personalised approach to tackling boys at risk for depression.

Through our research, we now have “This could be a much needed way of reducing the number of people suffering from depression, and in particular stemming a risk at a time when there has been an increasing rate of suicide among teenage boys and young men.”

The researchers measured levels of cortisol in saliva from two separate large groups of teenagers. The first consisted of 660 teenagers, who provided four early morning samples on schooldays within a week and then again 12 months later. The researchers were able to show within this

Lord Eames questions HM Government person has succeeded in taking their own life, or indeed attempted to do so, have little doubt of the impact on family life and community reaction.

So what are we talking about in this debate? A future of possibilities, a lifetime of promise and usefulness cut short; shattered hopes unfulfilled; hopes never realised. There are the inevitable questions, none of which have easy answers: why, how, and could it have been prevented?

Growing concern The recently published Preventing Suicide in England: One Year On was the first annual report on the crossgovernment outcomes strategy to save lives. PAPYRUS claims that had there been as clear a strategy and sense of purpose as in Scotland, probably 814 lives could have been saved. There is a genuine feeling that the Government have not granted new resources to deliver their strategy and have failed to present a clear implementation strategy. That may be the view of one charity, but I found that it is shared by others. Equally, there is a growing concern that in various parts of the country children and adolescent mental health services are seriously under resourced to meet the growing demands on their services.

There is an urgent need to change the burden of proof used by coroners to reach a suicide conclusion. The continued use of

group that cortisol levels were stable over one year in the population at large in both boys and girls.

A second group, consisting of 1,198 teenagers, provided early morning samples over three school days.

Using self-reports about current symptoms of depression collected over the 12 months and combining these with the cortisol findings, Professor Goodyer

New Scottish Suicide Prevention Strategy Launched Choose Life celebrates 10 years of saving lives In December 2013, Stephen Habgood and Ged Flynn represented PAPYRUS at the Choose Life National Forum for Suicide Prevention in Scotland where Michael Matheson MSP launched the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for Scotland.

The Scottish Government's 2013-2016 strategy to reduce suicide focuses on 5 key themes of work in communities and in services, with 11 commitments to continue the downward trend in suicides and contribute to the delivery of the National Outcome to enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

The key themes are: ! ! ! ! !

Responding to people in distress Talking about suicide Improving the NHS response to suicide Developing the evidence base Supporting change and improvement

the criminal standard of proof is surely unacceptable in this day and age. It contributes immensely to what so many of us refer to as the stigma surrounding suicide – a stigma that a lot of us feel inhibits many from seeking help.

There has been a general welcome for the support of the Department of Health and the Royal Colleges for the sharing of information in a suicidal crisis.

However sensitive though the issue may be – and I fully accept the sensitivities of patient confidentiality – many support the

colleagues were able to combine them and study the whole sample of 1,858 teenagers for the probability of developing clinical major depression and other psychiatric disorders when followed up 12 to 36 months later.

The subjects in Group 4 were on average seven times more likely than those in Group 1, and two to three times more likely than in the other two groups, to

You can read the strategy at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043 /00439429.pdf Scotland has recorded an 18 per cent fall since 2002, bucking the trend in many other countries.

The strategy pledges to improve the diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety in people with long-term or chronic health conditions and ensure a more regular review of those on long-term drug treatment for mental illness.

It also focuses on changing the way suicide is talked about in Scotland and supporting improvements in how the NHS responds to suicidal people.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson (pictured) said: "Scotland has made real progress in suicide prevention.

But we must build on that and keep reaching out to those who are at risk of suicide.” words of the chief executive of PAPYRUS:

“The duty of patient confidentiality should not be allowed to outweigh the chance of saving someone’s life”.

You can read the whole debate on our website and in Hansard. symptoms of depression alone. The findings suggest gender differences in how depression develops.

The researchers hope that having an easily measurable signpost will enable doctors to identify boys at high risk and consider new public mental health strategies.

The research has been welcomed by the Wellcome Trust which funded the study.

now have a very real way of identifying those teenage boys most likely to develop clinical depression and colleagues were able to divide the teenagers in the first group into four distinct sub-groups.

They ranged from those with normal levels of morning cortisol and low symptoms of depression over time (Group 1) through to those teenagers with elevated levels of morning cortisol and high symptoms of depression over time (Group 4) – this latter group made up one in six of all subjects (17 per cent).

Because the two groups gave identical results, Professor Goodyer and his

develop clinical depression.

Further analysis revealed that boys in Group 4 were 14 times more likely to suffer from major depression than those in Group 1 and two to four times more likely to develop the condition than either of the other two groups.

Girls in Group 4, on the other hand, were only four times more likely than those in Group 1 to develop major depression, but were no more likely to develop the condition than those with either elevated morning cortisol or

Dr John Williams, Head of Neuroscience and Mental Health, said: “Progress in identifying biological markers for depression has been frustratingly slow, but now we finally have a biomarker for clinical depression.

“The approach taken by Professor Goodyer's team may yet yield further biomarkers. It also gives tantalising clues about the gender differences in the causes and onset of depression.”

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 9

CAMPAIGN UPDATES SafeTALK – an important step in suicide prevention Suicide prevention training is a key element of our agenda, which encompasses a range of programmes for both organisations and individuals.

Within our portfolio is the globally recognised SafeTALK programme from LivingWorks™. This is a half-day training course that helps you to recognise people who may be at risk of suicide and provides the confidence and knowledge to link them to trained professionals and a safe environment. SafeTALK-trained helpers often refer young people at risk to PAPYRUS HOPELineUK helpline services.

SafeTALK is an important and accessible 'alertness training’ session which enables the general public more effectively to: ! move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide ! identify people who have thoughts of suicide ! feel confident to listen to the person’s feelings and talk with them in an honest and direct way about suicide ! Apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep Safe) to move a person with suicide thoughts from a risk situation to a safe environment with further support.

Many of those attending SafeTALK go on to attend our two-day workshop in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). ASIST is widely recognised as the leading suicide prevention education programme. Over 1 million people are trained in this programme across many countries.

The professional advisors who staff HOPELineUK are also ASIST-trained.

For more information about, SafeTALK, ASIST or our bespoke training in your community, please contact our Training Team. training@papyrus-uk.org 01925 572444 10 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

CAMHS funding PAPYRUS recently spoke out about the need for improved provision of mental health services to young people as a matter of urgency. PAPYRUS chairman, Stephen Habgood said: “With Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, warning that cuts to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are putting young people at risk, then clearly something needs to be done. With escalating mental health problems amongst the young, we can anticipate increased suicidal behaviours.

This government must urgently address this unacceptable situation.”

PAPYRUS has been increasingly concerned that, in various parts of the country, CAMHS is seriously under-resourced to meet the increasing demands for its services. Over the Christmas period, there was a critical shortage of hospital beds available to young people with acute mental health issues.

Concerned about the rate of suicide amongst the very young (in the under 15 age group a rise from 9 in 2011 to 17 in 2012), PAPYRUS is pressing for urgent action to improve support for children and young people at risk and those who care for them.

Internet safety PAPYRUS used Safer Internet Day 2014 in February to renew its call to HM Government and the internet industry to work together to block access to websites promoting suicide or self harm. PAPYRUS has campaigned for

Frequently asked

many years for the regulation of sites and chat rooms which encourage or assist vulnerable young people to take their own lives. We repeated our call for the blocking of such sites, following the government’s announcement in

Questions

Q: A boy in my son’s football team died recently by suicide.

The whole club was in shock and time was allowed for the team to talk about how they felt and to find ways of coping with their grief. I’m concerned because while the other boys seem to be moving on and getting over the loss, my son appears to be unable to get past the death of his teammate. He is preoccupied with thoughts of suicide. My wife found his internet history on his computer which showed he had searched for suicide information. I’m very worried. What can we do to help him to move on.

Can you advise?

A: Grief can take many forms, and the grieving process is different for each person. Your son is struggling to find a way to properly manage his grief. It is important to create an atmosphere where he knows that if and when he wishes to talk about his friend and

how he feels about his death, he can.

Asking your son directly, openly and honestly about his own feelings of suicide will not put the idea into his head; it will show that you are ready and happy to talk to him about it.

Talk to him as well about the sites he might find online if he searches for information surrounding suicide; stress that some can be dangerous and misleading. Gauging your son's thoughts on the suicide of his friend will help you to greater understand his needs in terms of dealing with how he feels. Our HOPELineUK helpline team can help you and your son – in confidence and respecting anonymity – with any concerns you have. Call us on 0800 068 41 41.

Q: I’m a uni student, studying away from home. I’m worried about one of my friends who lives in halls. She tried to end her own life two weeks ago, and she has been self-harming more intensely recently. No-one else in our social circle seems

November 2013 that new technology would be used to block sites promoting child abuse.

Martyn Piper, who leads our campaign on these issues said: “Sites promoting suicide and self harm are already those most blocked by parents using family filters; the government and the internet industry must now apply developing technology to block searches for such sites more widely.”

Recent sad cases have highlighted how social media and general blogging sites can also pose dangers. These pose new challenges which must be tackled in a number of ways: 1. We need better education and a better understanding of the dangers, as well as the fun and pleasure, not just by parents and carers but also by young people themselves.

2. The sites must be effectively moderated; this requires both sufficient resources and the will to intervene where necessary.

3. This must again go hand in hand with the application of technological advances to safety.

Martyn added, “The IT industry has some really clever, high powered people, forever breaking new ground and offering new services. They must apply the same effort and brain power to making the social media safer.”

willing or able to help her except me, which puts a lot of pressure on me. I want to be able to support my friend and make sure she gets the right help, but I also need to look after myself so that I am emotionally strong enough for the demands of uni life. What steps should I take?

A: The demands of uni life can be a struggle: including living away from home for the first time, taking responsibility for your health (physical, mental, sexual and emotional), study and exam pressure, and financial concerns. If your friend's self-harm is increasing, it may mean that the coping mechanism she used in the past no longer deals with the stress or pain she feels. It is wonderful that you feel

Standard of proof (Coroners’ Inquests) Since the last newsletter, we have continued to press HM Government to address the continued use of the criminal standard of proof in reaching a conclusion of suicide by coroners at inquests. We are pressing the Ministry of Justice to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

Medical confidentiality PAPYRUS welcomed the Consensus Statement facilitated by the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group between the various Royal Colleges on the sharing of information in a suicidal crisis.

“The duty of patient confidentiality should not be allowed to outweigh the chance of saving someone’s life,” said Ged Flynn, Chief Executive.

If you would like to know more about any of our campaigns, or have a concern that you would like us to address as a member of the charity, please contact PAPYRUS 01925 572444.

you want to help your friend but you have rightfully pointed out that you need to look after yourself, too. Talk to your friend about going to the uni support and wellbeing staff, or making an appointment with her GP to discuss her healthcare needs in a confidential environment. The more appropriate people you connect your friend to for support, the more chances she has of dealing with how she is feeling in a healthy way. HOPELineUK can give you or your friend practical advice and support – what to say and do: give us a call on 0800 068 41 41.

hard to cope and it’s affecting my mood very badly. I’ve thought of other ways to get out of the debt and suicide seems like my only option. My parents might be able to help me but they would be very angry that I took this job to make money, and they wouldn’t understand that I am thinking of suicide. I don’t know what to do.

A: Financial concerns are one of the most stressful aspects of life, and can often alienate and isolate us from our Q: I am in a lot of debt to a friends, families and peers. Finding safe friend. It’s tough. I have ended and manageable ways to deal with up taking a job which I hate in debt can be tough but there are lots of order to pay this off, but the helpful organisations like DebtLine. job is demeaning and I can’t tell Talking to them about your finances, anyone about it. I’m finding it and speaking to your doctor about your emotional and mental health is a good place to start. Debt Help + advice can be a contributing HOPELineUK is able to offer hope when it seems that there is none. factor to suicide and it is vital If you’re struggling with life right now or are concerned that a young person you know to seek advice before it is too may be going through a difficult time, one of our trained advisors will be able to help. late. Call HOPELineUK on Life can be difficult sometimes and knowing what to say can often stop us from 0800 068 41 41 for reaching out for fear of making the situation worse or being judged. Nothing is too little to non-judgmental guidance. talk about, speak to us today.

Contact: HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41, text 07786 209697 or e-mail pat@papyrus-uk.org PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 11 Opening Hours: 10am-10pm weekdays; 2-5pm weekends and Bank Holidays

Regional development In our last newsletter we announced our success in securing funding from The Monument Trust to help extend and strengthen the PAPYRUS footprint across different regions of the UK. In January, our new Development Manager Karen May was appointed.

Karen is based at our Warrington office but will be responsible for driving forward our Regional Development Unit, which will focus on: ! Supporting our existing Area Representatives and Locality Networks ! Developing PAPYRUS volunteer opportunities in the regions ! Extending our outreach and training work in the North West In 2014 we shall be delivering a series of dedicated PAPYRUS roadshows in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Lancashire.

PAPYRUS will also develop new Regional Area in the West Midlands, with an initial focus on Birmingham. Before summer 2014 we shall be recruiting a new West Midlands Regional Development Officer who will operate from a new base in Birmingham. Once these aspects are in place we shall be rolling out a programme of development activities to engage local communities in our young suicide prevention activities.

In addition our new Development Unit will contribute to a sustainable funding plan to help PAPYRUS secure additional funds which will help us extend the charity into other regional areas within the next three years.

In balancing existing activity with focused, proactive development work we shall maintain our identity as a leading national charity in young suicide prevention.

Karen is interested to hear from anyone living in the Birmingham area who would be interested in joining PAPYRUS and becoming involved in our proposed developments in the West Midlands.

Contact:

Karen May, Karen.May@papyrus-uk.org 01925 572 444

12 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

Thank you to all of our supporters who are helping us to progress

Fundrais

Fundraising case study

Fundraiser Kelly Bradley writes:

Why I continue to support this fantastic cause

Strong family support.

Over the last year the PAPYRUS fundraising team has had the pleasure of working with hundreds of supporters across the UK who want to reach out to many more young people at risk of suicide.

From our marathon runners and skydivers to event-hosts and HOPEWalkers, to those of you who

send your generous donations to help us … we’re thrilled to have you all on board … an enormous ‘thank you’.

Your support is vital and we hope you will join us again for a bumper year of new and exciting fundraising events as we all continue on our mission to save young lives.

aising...

Thank you.

e number of ! Increase th s, l helpline service

our nationa HOPELineUK increase our relationships to ! Build new vels ce at regional le focus and presen sities er iv e un with many mor ! Build links ss the UK and colleges acro

HOPEWalk 2014

“I took on my challenge this year – a sponsored skydive for PAPYRUS to raise awareness and as much money as possible for this brilliant charity – and in memory of my big brother Daniel, who took his own life in 2012, aged 33.

There were no signs that he was struggling with life and my whole family and I were absolutely devastated. Dan had a ‘not a care in the world’ attitude and always a smile on his face. Dan was my best friend as well as my brother and I’ll continue to support PAPYRUS so that his memory will never fade and I can in turn help to support other young people struggling with suicidal thoughts to find hope.

If I'm honest, I'd never heard of PAPYRUS before I lost Dan. Now, I want to continue raising as much awareness as I can for this life-saving charity, to make sure that young people with mental health issues know that there is help out there and to prevent other families from going through what we did.”

That‘s me!

helped us to: Last year, you staff supporting

trainers Brush up your oots! and walking b will OPEWalk appeal Our national H Mental ctober, during be back this O the ess Week, for Health Awaren nning! second year ru PEWalkers set

reds of HO Last year, hund of hope ad a message re sp cal c out in style to lo r ei th ut ho throug nds of sa and positivity ou th of ising tens our ep ommunities, ra lp ke the way to he pounds along g. services runnin ake HOPEWalk can’t wait to m e w ar ye is Th last. We’d e th an th d better even bigger an o and we’ll to n part of the fu be to u yo ve lo hosts. more HOPEWalk be calling for

Registration for HOPEWalk2014 will open in June but do register your interest before then to be amongst the first to receive details of this year’s event. Contact the Fundraising Team today.

T: 01925 572 444 E: fundraising@papyrus-uk.org “People were asking about the charity which was really good and we were approached by others who wanted to share their own experiences. We were able to give out details of getting in contact with PAPYRUS – I think this was a particular highlight for me of my HOPEWalk.” Linda, Gosport HOPEWalk 2013 Host

“It was such a warming feeling to kno people that w all the jo the walk w ined us on ere there to support m e, my HOPEWalk and PAPYRUS.” Shane, Leed s HOPEWalk2 013 Host

… simply by Please don’t forget Gift Aid Gift Aiding your fundraising you are raising an additional 25p per £1.

Kelly and her brother Dan.

PAPYRUS SPRING 2014 13

Fundraising...

We rely on your support to keep our life saving services running.

Here is just a handful of our fundraisers who have supported us over the last few months

! Karl Binley hosted a charity collection event in Cottingham ! Ellis Jenart hosted a charity concert in Westoning ! OPEN CRM had a staff Christmas Jumper–wearing day at work in Richmond ! Lesley Thompson organised a pub quiz in Portsoy ! Sioned Hughes, Daniel Lovell and Rob and James Cura ran the Reading Half Marathon ! Dean McMinn hosted a charity auction at work in Stirling ! Tara McPhearson ran the Barcelona Marathon ! Manchester University Dance Society supported us again with its annual dance show ! Gordon’s School in Woking hosted a number of fundraisers including a music concert

! Ali Nash MBE completed an incredible cycling challenge along the Welsh Coast – during the worst storms of the year

! Thanks to Chris Scully for hosting another Charity golf day

! Michelle O’Gorman from Thames Ditton with her well-deserved post-run medal! Michelle completed both a 10K and Half Marathon Good luck to all of you training for or planning a future fundraising event to support PAPYRUS. Do contact our fundraising team fundraising@papyrus-uk.org for ideas, publicity support, shirts and collection boxes.

Brand new to 2014!

The PAPYRUS

Masquerade Appeal…

Will you take part and help young people struggling to cope with life reveal how they feel?

What is the PAPYRUS Masquerade Appeal?

Our newest fundraising appeal is a great way for people to get together with friends, family and colleagues to help raise awareness that whilst we all wear masks from time to time, young people struggling with life don’t have to cover up difficult thoughts and feelings.

Being part of the Masquerade Appeal means you can help more young people struggling to cope with life see that it’s okay to reveal how they really feel and that there is always support there for them.

And what’s more, you’ll be helping us raise the vital funds to make sure those very support services are always there for young people, their parents and others worried about suicide to turn to.

14 PAPYRUS SPRING 2014

Be part of it...

You can take part in the Masquerade Appeal in any way you choose. For example: ! Inviting friends and neighbours for a Masquerade Dinner party ! Holding a Fancy Mask dress down day at work… or a competition! ! Host a favourite Superheroes Day or a Phantom of the Opera Party Whatever you do, we have plenty of hints, tips and tools to help you create a Masquerade theme.

Simply register your event to be amongst the first to receive your free Masquerade Fundraising Pack.

You can download a registration form from our website www.papyrus-uk.org /fundraising or contact the Fundraising Team for more information and ideas.

T: 01925 572 444 E: fundraising@papyrus-uk.org

e

Help us to reach more young people by keeping our life saving services running.

Here are just some of the incredible events coming up over the next few months: ! Ben Warwick and his team will be taking on the incredible 3 Peaks Challenge ! Janet Diffin, Rachel Lafferty and a team of Cheshire-based mental health professionals led by Tracy Dennis are running the Manchester 10K in May. ! Sharon Lauderdale is hosting a charity evening ! Carole Steel, Ian Sadler and Fiona Salt will be running the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ roll Marathon ! Sophie Elliot is hosting a number of acoustic band nights in Reading ! Amy Thompson and Fiona Southall are doing the Great North Swim ! Tom Coley, Sally Jenkins, Emily & Mary Ackland, Phillip & Diane Barnes are all joining the fantastic London to Paris Bike ride!

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

£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) ! Well done to Newcastle Students’ Union who chose us as one of their RAG week charities, hosting events, tea parties, bucket collections and their very own Man V Food and Take me out!

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.