Volunteer news and views

Suicide by children and young people

By Mike Barber, London volunteer

I would like to bring to your attention a research article: Suicide by children and young people. National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCISH). Manchester: University of Manchester, 2017.

The aim of the study was to find “common themes in the lives of young people who die by suicide”. The researchers collected evidence on 922 suicides by under 25-year-olds during 2014 and 2015. This means that this research is independent of any Covid-19 related issues.

The key findings were that:

· There is rarely one single cause for suicide in young people, there is a combination of factors both previous and current

· Most children come through the stresses which can cause suicide without serious harm

· Family factors are very important and management of these is crucial in suicide prevention

· Other factors include, mental or physical illness, childhood abuse, bullying, health issues, social isolation, alcohol or drug misuse

There should be greater emphasis placed on support for mental health in schools, colleges and universities. Specifically, there should be more support for those bereaved, especially by suicide, more support for looked after children and for LGBT [sic] young people.

Specific action is needed to support those bereaved, especially by suicide.

There should be greater emphasis placed on support for mental health in schools, colleges and universities.

There is too much information about suicide methods on the internet and there should be further efforts to have this removed.

There should be greater collaboration between front line services, including risk management and improvement of access.

The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness Suicide by children and young people in England. Manchester: University of Manchester, 2016, cited ten common themes in suicide by children and young people. These may increase over time, thereby increasing risk. Further to this suicide may then occur as a result of a crisis.

The ten themes are:

1. Family factors such as mental illness 2. Abuse and neglect 3. Bereavement and experience of suicide 4. Bullying 5. Suicide-related internet use 6. Academic pressures, especially related to exams 7. Social isolation or withdrawal 8. Physical health conditions that may have social impact 9. Alcohol and illicit drug use 10. Mental ill health, self-harm and suicidal idea

Common stresses in young people are usually overcome by the majority. However, for a minority these stresses are serious and present a real risk. Consequently, when young people present with signs of distress, these should never be dismissed as “transient or trivial”.

The report found that there is often a pattern leading to suicide in young people, categorised by cumulative risk. This can include traumatic experiences in early life, a build-up of adverse conditions, adolescent high-risk behaviours (also in early adulthood), and a “final straw” event or crisis. Part of the difficulty is that this final event, may not seem severe, so the context of historical and present difficulties must be considered.

In terms of prevention, there are pointers as to how we can help prevent suicide in children and young people.

1. Because adverse early life experiences can make young people vulnerable, anything which can be done to improve such experiences will be of benefit. This will require working with families and agencies to support vulnerable children

2. As they get older, support should be available, in the form of better mental health provision in schools, access to CAMHS and support for those who self-harm or engage in alcohol or substance abuse

3. In workplaces, colleges and universities, healthy initiatives should be promoted and there should be a system for management of potential crises.

Although one becomes an adult in law at the age of 18, each person is different. However, at the age of 18, young people move from children’s services to adult services. The report advocates development of the services, so that there can be flexibility in the transition point

Finally, self-harm is a “crucial indicator of risk” and should always be treated seriously, even if the physical injury is minor. The frontline services which deal with self-harm are crucial. There should be more availability of psychological assessment and therapies should be readily available.

I would urge you to read the report, which can be found at: Suicide in Children & Young People in England 2016 (manchester.ac.uk)

By Kaleh Ali, London volunteer

At PAPYRUS mental health is a very important matter, that’s why World Mental Health Day is of such significance to us. World Mental Health Day takes place on the 10th October. It is a day all about the awareness, education and support for people with mental health issues. The first celebration of World Mental Health Day was in 1992 in more than 150 countries, it is now celebrated internationally!

“Caring for the mind is as important and crucial as caring for the body. In fact, one cannot be healthy without the other.”

Why is World Mental Health Day important?

World Mental Health Day is important as it helps to create more awareness of mental health and how as individuals, we can be more involved making sure that people living with mental health problems or suicidal thoughts can have more support. The day allows an opportunity for everyone as individual or as groups to talk about and discuss how they are working on mental health issues, suicide prevention and what else needs to be carried out in order for mental health care to become a common reality for everyone internationally.

How could you participate in World Mental Health Day?

There are many ways you can get involved on World Mental Health Day, this can be either in small or big ways, whichever way you are comfortable. As any difference is a difference regardless if it is small or big. One of the best and initial ways to get involved is by creating your own awareness and educating yourself and adopting a more positive mental health perception, especially with our current day stigma around mental health issues. If you are part of a community or workplace you could initiate ways in which you can use the day for creating awareness and support around mental health for example through having posters put around.

For World Mental Health Day, I participated by creating awareness of it at the school I work at. I created awareness around the topic by discussing using child appropriate terms and language; what mental health is, and why mental health is important. We discussed ways and things we could do that makes us happy if we are feeling sad. Additionally, we spoke about if we are feeling sad or unhappy that’s okay and normal. We spoke about ways we could manage these feelings, maybe through talking to someone or a friend about how we are feeling. Lastly, as a class they did an activity where they did a spider diagram about things that makes them happy. They really enjoyed this activity as they were able to discuss with peers about what these things are that make us happy. Some of their pictures on the mind map included pictures of them spending time with their family, some included them playing the fun fair and some of them playing football.

PAPYRUS HOPEWALK

In relation to the discussion around mental health awareness and how to get involved, eight years ago PAPYRUS set in motion HOPEWALK. This year it marks the ninth annual walk to #SmashTheStigma and to raise important funds for the prevention of young suicide. In the past years, people have helped raise thousands of pounds which has potentially saved so many young lives in the UK. All the support and money raised truly means so much to PAPYRUS.