PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

prevention of young suicidePAPYRUS

Making sureyoung peoplealways have a

place to turn

CEO Report

Dear PAPYRUS Members and Friends,Christmas and New Year are painfulmoments for many of our readers. Winteritself can bring many challenges and, forthose vulnerable young people who struggle with life in general, it can be aparticularly tough period of the year.However, it is thanks to the generous andloyal contributions of readers like you thatour HOPELineUK services will rise to meetthe 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 whoare experiencing emotional distress or caring for a young person who is findinglife unbearable.

Since September we have embarkedon support for a number of new researchprojects with various academics across theUK. It is always right that we underpin our messages with robust evidence andwe are delighted to play our part in advising those who work assiduously toknow more about young people and theirneeds, 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 BristolUniversity, who takes a keen interest in our work and helps us to ensure that what we say is in keeping with latestresearch findings.

Our Area Representatives have continued to fly the PAPYRUS flag in theirrespective regions. It is good to see thisinitiative gathering pace. You can readabout some of these activities in this issue.

PAPYRUS staff and trustees haveworked hard over recent months toincrease awareness of the prevalence ofsuicidal thinking and behaviour amongyoung people in the UK and to raise theprofile of what is being done to offer hopeand mitigate risk. We have had the support of so many people in recentmonths. Organising and participating inevents for PAPYRUS, providing images forposters, sharing personal stories of hope,spending time to fold letters, giving thatextra push to meet a deadline, providing

Tel: 01925 572 444Fax: 01925 240 502email: [email protected]: www.papyrus-uk.org

Contact details

For support, practical advice andinformation concerning suicide prevention call the PAPYRUS helpline:

Welcome to the newsletter ofthe national charity PAPYRUS.

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide67 Bewsey StreetWarrington Cheshire WA2 7JQ.

Patrons:Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory, Simon Hughes MP.

PAPYRUSprevention of young suicide

This newsletter is availableonline at www.papyrus-uk.org/NL/51Back copies of previous newslettersare also on the website.

Please note, the views expressed in thisnewsletter do not necessarily reflect those ofthe editorial team or of PAPYRUS as anorganisation. Any information contained inthis newsletter is intended for guidance onlyand is not a substitute for professionaladvice. No responsibility for loss occasionedas a result of any person acting or refrainingfrom acting because of what is written in thenewsletter can be accepted by the publisher,authors or the PAPYRUS Trustees.

Registered Charity Number 1070896. A Company Limited By GuaranteeNumber 3555482.

2 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013

We are ALWAYS looking for people to get involved withPAPYRUS so if there's somethingyou'd like to do to help, pleasecontact PAPYRUS [email protected] or on 01925 572 444.

Autumn 2013 no.51

HOPELineUK0800 068 41 41Or text or email us:

SMS: 07786 209697e-mail: [email protected]

Recent research has suggested that UK teensare leaders in smartphoneuse and that 95 per centof young people aged 12to 17 access the internet(eMarketer, 2013). Thesame research also foundthat 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, beingincreasingly popular and more easilyaccessible, it is important that there areclear and structured ways in which theuse of these sites is managed.

There have been several high profilenews stories in recent months linking theuse of social media to apparent suicidesof young people. Whilst it is important toacknowledge that there is generally noone specific reason why a person maytake his or her life, we need to under-stand the role of social media and howyoung people use it. For many youngpeople social media sites are an extensionof their personal network. Online theykeep in touch with friends, share experiences and express emotions. Thedark side is the exposure of vulnerable

people to negativeand upsetting comment, which canexacerbate existingthoughts of suicide. It is therefore imperative that social

media content and accessis better managed.

PAPYRUS is working with current research projects into how social media is used and itsrelation to suicide. These projectslook at the use of social media byyoung people, how it is used following suicide, the effect of clusters, aswell as access to potentially dangerousmaterial on the internet. As a result we expect to have a much better understanding of the role of social mediasites in young society today.

There are simple steps you can take to help keep young people safe,including creating an environment wheretalking is encouraged – no subject shouldbe taboo. This was reiterated by GedFlynn, our CEO, on ITV’s This Morning(see picture) when asked about whatpeople could do to stay more vigilantabout online activity.

Managing Social MediaPAPYRUS Suicide Prevention Coordinator Alexis Elliott, writes …

Ged Flynn writes …

For many young people social media sites are an extension of their personal network

ContentsSocial work and suicide prevention

Government puts pressure on ISPs

HOPEWalk 2013 – a great success!

Depressed? Who?... Me? – A personal account

Student mental health

Frequently asked questions

Fundraising highlights

4

6

8

10

10

12

13-15

PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2013 3

If you are concerned about somethingposted online by someone you know, ask themabout it. This shows that you have seen it andthat you care about them. It may open up aconversation that helps the person to feel moreconnected to life and those around them. Ifyou see anything online that causes you concern – even if you do not know the author– report it. Most social media sites have thisfacility and some will contact the originatorabout the complaint.

For further advice call HOPELineUK on0800 068 41 41. For more information onthe social media research projects, contactPAPYRUS on 01925 572444.

“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 dedicatedto 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 concernedabout young people in their care.

I’ve long been a supporter of the work of PAPYRUS and have beenin touch with the charity from time to time over a number of years; so Isee this as an extension of our relationship.

Professor Mark Williams, your previous advisor, will be a hard act tofollow, but I’ll try my best.”

Professor David Gunnell

New professional advisor

resources to aid our work; I am confident thatall such contributions make a huge differenceand help us to prevent young suicide.

I am always inspired by the work of our trustees, staff and volunteers who trydaily to turn the darkness into light. I amespecially grateful to the many parents,partners, friends and young people whoknow only too well the reality of young suicide in their own families and communities. Those who share their ownstories of hope show that, with help andsupport, many young suicides can be prevented.

Best wishesGED FLYNN

Chief Executive

Have you got yours yet?We have four beautiful designsto choose from. Each card yousend helps to raiseawareness of PAPYRUSand our services tohelp prevent youngsuicide.

A pack of 10 is£4.50 including P&P.Thank you for helpingto save young lives this Christmas.

SendPAPYRUS

cards thisChristmas

For many young people social media sites are an extension of their personal network

Call to Action onSuicide PreventionPAPYRUS continues to play its part in thisEngland-wide initiative which has enabled over50 national stakeholders from across all sectorsto identify and mobilise action on priorities; inorder to support those at risk of suicide, reducedeaths by suicide and support those affected bya suicide. Moving forward, the Call to Actionwill be known as the National SuicidePrevention Alliance and aims to engage withmore national, cross-sector partners to informactivities and deliver tangible progress.

To order cards before 6 December 2013, call 01925 572 444 or email [email protected]. You can pay by card over the phone or send acheque made out to PAPYRUS to:PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, 67 Bewsey Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 7JQThank you for your seasonal support.

Christmas shoppersHelp PAPYRUS with your online shoppingby 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 [email protected]


Social Workand SuicidePrevention

Our suicide prevention teamcontinues to deliver trainingand education workshops inschools, universities, youngoffender institutions and othercommunity-based settings.

Some recent examples include: ! Working with the entire LowerSixth at Colchester RoyalGrammar School. Here we discussed attitudes to help-seeking,issues which arise for young peoplewhich may cause distress and feelingsof hopelessness, how to get help andhow to get involved in our work as anational charity.

! Similarly, workshops throughoutthe day for pupils at PrestonManor High School, Wembleyhelped not only the students andstaff, they also renewed our ownteam’s understanding of what it is liketo be a young person today, how theycan teach us about their concerns andwhat gives them hope.

! By listening to sociology students at Baverstock Academy,Birmingham we gained freshinsights and engaged them in ourmessages about young suicide

prevention. We have also deliveredworkshops to staff in universities. Forexample, the Wellbeing and Disabilityteams at Chester University haveplans to build on our recent input forstaff and are hoping to link to furthertraining from PAPYRUS in the future.

Networking meetings have beenvery productive over recent months indifferent parts of the UK. Not only dothese events help us to raise aware-ness of the charity, they also enablethe team to make invaluable linkswith communities and other professionals. We attend events wherewe can influence people’s response toyoung people and those who are concerned for their mental health andemotional wellbeing. Recent eventsincluded two community days organised by British TransportPolice; Stockport and DistrictMIND Family Fun Day and‘Music and the Mind’ in Preston.

! For World Mental HealthAwareness in October, we were at University of CentralLancashire for a community outreach event and in Wrexham at aProfessional Networking event that

enabled the team to meet others inthe mental health field. Networkingopportunities at these events areinvaluable in raising awareness ofPAPYRUS.

! We also visit particular groupsof young people who may be atheightened risk of suicide. Our inputat Young Offender Institutes, forexample, is always welcomed and,again helps us learn invaluable lessonsabout those involved – in this case,within the criminal justice system.

! In other events, we have helpedtrain staff and volunteers in suicideprevention by providing training atManchester Self Help Services’new project, The Sanctuary whichoffers an out-of-hours service to thoseat risk of suicide. The team has alsoworked with Street Angels in

PAPYRUS IN THE COMMUNITYOut&about

David Foy BAMA Social Work,PAPYRUS Suicide

Prevention Advisor

Research has shown thatdespite increased awarenessof suicide as a major social and public health concern, many health care professionals in contact withhigh-risk clients are often notprovided with the training and professional support necessary to help clients who are having thoughts of suicide.

Professions such as nursing andsocial work have a great deal to offerin the field of suicide prevention.They bring unique skills sets, diversework settings and person-centredapproaches to practice. Social workers, in particular, commonlyencounter high-risk client groupswith a range of psychosocial problems. These include mental illness, physical ill heath and financialdifficulties, all of which have beencited by research as potential

predicators of suicidal ideas andbehaviour.

Social work practitioners are, inmy view, well placed to identifyclients at risk and to carry out crucialinterventions to improve outcomesfor those affected by distress.However, there is great variation inspecific training and expertise in thearea of suicide prevention acrossareas of social work practice.

Social workers operating withinstatutory mental health services aregenerally provided with the necessaryspecialist training in assessment andintervention frameworks to supportat-risk clients. However, research hasshown that many social workersoperating outside mainstream mentalhealth services, in areas such as children’s services or adult care, donot feel well-equipped to support suicidal clients.

These findings are further echoedby Daisy Bogg at the Royal College of


PAPYRUS IN THE COMMUNITY

Blackpool, providing workshops onwarning signs, contributing factors tosuicide and other aspects, to helpinform the invaluable service theyprovide for local homeless people.

We were recently invited to speakto diocesan coordinators of family lifeministry under the auspices of theCatholic Bishops’ Conference ofEngland and Wales and look forwardto training some of their colleagues inlocal communities in the monthsahead. Interestingly, the Church’smaterial for its 2013 Day for Lifeearlier this year included care forthose who are suicidal and their families. In recent months, we havealso been in contact with thoseresponsible for mental health policywithin the Church of England andare looking at ways of working

together to tackle stigma and promote sources of help.Conversations with various otherfaith leaders nationally haveproved very useful in looking atbreaking down perceived barriersand issues about stigma.

! PAPYRUS is often invited toattend local suicide prevention network meetings across the UK.Recent examples have been partnerships in Somerset,Cumbria and Lancashire. As newlocal suicide prevention strategies arelaunched or are being written, it isvital that they encompass the needsof young people and those who areconcerned about them.

In turn, this can inform ourwork as an active member of both the National SuicidePrevention Strategy AdvisoryGroup in England and the WelshGovernment Advisory Groupfor Self-Harm Reduction andSuicide Prevention. As PAPYRUSmembers you enable us to speak atnational level with greater confidence;it is your voice that helps us to influence social policy and action.

Sincere thanks to all AreaRepresentatives for excellent progressmade. If you are interested in repre-senting PAPYRUS in your area pleasecontact Alexis Elliott at PAPYRUSon 01925 572 444 or [email protected]

Social Workers, who highlights theimportance of all Social Workers beingskilled in tackling suicide, not just thoseworking in mental health. She notesthat the majority of people who endtheir lives by suicide each year are not infact in contact with mental health services. She argues that a greater levelof understanding of and expertise in suicide prevention across different areasof social work is required. There aremany high-risk groups regularly in contact with social workers for reasonsother than mental ill health. Theseinclude young people with a history ofself-harm, young people with chronicphysical health and young people incontact with the criminal justice system.

Suicide prevention training onthe curriculum

There are currently no requirementsfor suicide prevention modules to beincluded in mainstream social worktraining programmes in the UK. Yet

research has strongly indicated thateffective training can radically improveoutcomes for clients experiencing suicidal thoughts and can also contribute towards the creation of suicide-safer communities.

I suggest that suicide preventiontraining should be incorporated into the basic framework of social work programmes provided by universitiesacross the country, in order to providepractitioners with a common set ofskills. As a qualified social worker I cantestify to the need for this provision

within the social work core curriculum. I firmly believe suicide prevention

training would be hugely beneficial toall undergraduate and postgraduate students. ASIST is the leading evidence-based programme in suicide preventionand intervention, applicable across arange of practice settings, to provide acommon set of intervention skills. Aswell as knowledge, this training gaveme 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 SuicideIntervention 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 Awarenessand Prevention Training for Social Workers and Paraprofessionals’ Journal of SocialWork Education 47 (3)

Sher L. (2011) Teaching Medical Professionals about Suicide Prevention: What'sMissing’ Quarterly Journal Medicine 104 (11)

Mithran S, (2002) ‘All Social Workers Should Know about Suicide – Not Just Those inMental Health’ Community Care Magazine Online 10 September

! Our Area Representatives have beenbusy in their local areas holdingfundraising events as well as helping toraise the profile of the charity. Activitieshave included information and leafletdistribution in a variety of settings fromGP surgeries to mental health teams.Some of the Area Representatives haveprovided SuicideTALKs to students andother organisations, such as the ChesterDiocese Mental Health Forum.

! PAPYRUS has also been representedat conferences in Bristol and Somersetthanks to our Area Representatives,providing the charity with a vital localpresence and raising awareness of thework we do. They have also represent-ed us at universities, ensuring thatPAPYRUS is more widely recognised and‘opening doors’ to opportunities fortraining and workshops with staff.

In July the Prime Ministercalled on the InternetService Providers (ISPs)and internet searchengines to provide betterprotection for children andyoung people online.David Cameron said: “Ourcollective lack of action on the internet has led to harmful – and in some cases truly dreadful – consequences for children. In noother market – and no other industry – do we have such anextraordinarily light touch when itcomes to protecting our children.”

He gave a commitment that the government would require ISPs to providenew customers with a default-on setting forfamily-friendly filters, which can only bechanged by the account-holder; and thatexisting customers will be presented with asimilar choice in due course.

In effect this is the ‘opt-in’ approach we have long sought and this change ingovernment policy marks a victory forPAPYRUS and other campaigners for better

online safety. Wehave written to thePrime Minister seeking assurancethat suicide sites willbe included in thenew filteringarrangements, and

received assurance from Ed Vaizey, Ministerfor Culture, Communications and CreativeIndustries that this is so. We will continue tomonitor the position until the ISP proposalsare made public and implemented.

Less helpfully, Mr Vaizey rejected ourrequest that suicide sites should be broughtwithin the remit of CEOP – the ChildExploitation and Online Protection Centre.We have repeatedly pointed out that neitherthis government-sponsored body nor theISP-sponsored body, the Internet WatchFoundation (IWF), accepts the suicide sites asfalling within their remit. We have askedthat this be reconsidered. Indeed JimGamble, the former head of CEOP, hasdrawn attention to the dangers of suicidepromotion on the internet.

In parallel, the Culture, Media and Sport

Select Committee has launched anotherinquiry into online safety, to which we have submitted written evidence highlighting the dangers of easy access topro-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 computersand other e-devices after an apparent suicide.

We believe that the incidence of internet-related suicide is understated and under-reported, partly because some police forces areno longer undertaking this task. We have beentold that the mandatory examination of computers for all suicides would place a significant extra burden on already stretchedpolice resources, but that police forces wouldalways examine computers if asked to do so by a coroner. This may provide an alternativeapproach for us.

A number of coroners have alreadydrawn attention to the involvement of theinternet in young suicides. We hope thatsome of the research projects in which weare involved (see elsewhere in this issue) willprovide solid evidence of the problem.

Government puts pressure on ISPs but still no equivalentto CEOP for suicide-related concernsMartyn Piper summarises internet safety campaign progress

Internet campaign


Media‘Excessive’ – one word.Why the fuss?Interpretation of the word ‘excessive’has been for some time, and remains, abone of contention when dealing withmedia reporting of suicide.

PAPYRUS first raised this issue withthe Press Complaints Commission (PCC)*in 1999 when the charity supported acomplaint by members concerning amagazine’s depiction of their daughter’ssuicide.

At that time we were invited by the PCC to submit suggestions foramendments to the Editors’ Code ofPractice. In response to our request formore sensitivity, the PCC ruled that ourconcerns were already adequately covered by the existing Clause 5 andthat no change would be made at that time.

We do believe we influenced a subsequent revision to the Code, whichnow carries an addition to the Clause:‘when reporting suicide, care should betaken to avoid excessive detail about themethod used’.

‘Excessive’ – more than is necessary,normal, desirable, immoderate or proper.

We believe that all are applicable. Itis now well recognised that publicising

details of suicide methods can encourage imitation and we have forsome time lobbied for the removal ofthe ‘excessive’ word. Explicit descriptionscan also cause further distress to familyand friends of the deceased.

Our concerns are based on anecdotal evidence from our members,calls to our helpline from young peopledistressed after reading details of suicide in the press, academic researchand the views of academics, as well as evidence of multiple suicides concentrated in one area, the Bridgendarea of South Wales being a high profileexample. Our substantial dealings withmedia at that time, confirmed that somejournalists, in their quest for detailedcopy, did not understand the negativeimpact their words could have on a vulnerable person.

Publicity that mentions methodadvertises a successful way to kill yourself; if a particular method is reported frequently, it can be viewed asa popular or preferred method.

A journalist may believe it is relevant to indicate how a person hasdied. PAPYRUS believes mentioning

suicide is enough, the method is irrelevant.

We believe inclusion of this oneword, ‘excessive’, is a big issue and continue to campaign for its removalfrom any future code of practice. Wewould therefore welcome examples ofwhat you believe to be excessive detailin your press.

Please send to [email protected] or call Rosemary Vaux on 0208 943 5343.

* On 25th October the Independent PressStandards Organisation (IPSO) wasannounced, to be entirely independentof all political parties. It is described as ‘atough new regulator for the press – thetoughest in the western world’. IPSOwill be up and running early next yearand will deliver all the key elements LordJustice Leveson called for in his report,and ‘will guarantee the British publicenjoy the standard of journalism theydeserve’. We await with interest detailrelevant to sensitive and irresponsiblereporting.

Stop press:


PAPYRUS positionConfidentiality between patient and doctor is an important principle. However,the safety of the patient is paramount andtherefore sharing of information may wellneed to happen in order to save life. TheGovernment's National Suicide PreventionStrategy for England states that, ‘there areclearly times when mental health service practitioners, in dealing with a person atrisk of suicide, may need to inform thefamily about aspects of risk to help keepthe patient safe.’ Where the individual isunder 18, the issue is even clearer: GMCGuidelines for all doctors dealing with 0-18 year-olds state that they should disclose information if this is necessary toprotect the child or young person, orsomeone else, from risk of death and serious harm. The guidelines make clearthat the doctors’ ultimate responsibility issafeguarding and protecting the health

and wellbeing of children and youngpeople.

! Help is at Hand refreshIt is hoped that a refreshed resourcepack for people bereaved by suicide and professionals supporting them will be available for distribution fromMarch 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.

! Standard of proofThe Advisory Group has been kept up todate with this campaign and has notedthat the matter is now being discussed

further by the Chief Coroner and theMinistry of Justice.

PAPYRUS was consulted on, contributed to and welcomed the implementation of the relevant parts ofthe Coroners and Justice Act 2009 andnew coroner Rules and Regulations, intro-duced by the Ministry of Justice in July2013. These reforms did not include achange to the Standard of Proof used inreaching a conclusion of suicide atinquests. The charity has written to theChief Coroner and to the Ministry ofJustice to continue to press for this.

Involvement with NationalSuicide Prevention Strategies– ensuring that young people and those who care for them areincluded in national plansGed Flynn represents PAPYRUS on the National Suicide PreventionStrategy Advisory Group (for England). The group’s Annual will beproduced in November 2013 – look out for it on the PAPYRUS website. There are a number of recent agenda items whichPAPYRUS members will be particularly interested in:

Dr Ann John (pictured) writes aboutsuicide prevention in Wales. Annchairs the Welsh Government’sNational Advisory Group on behalfof Public Health Wales. PAPYRUSPrevention of Young Suicide is represented on this national groupby Ged Flynn.

In 2009 the Welsh Government published Talk to me a five year Nationalaction plan to reduce suicide and self harm,aimed to raise awareness of suicide and selfharm and help people understand that it isoften preventable. The plan had seven keycommitments:! 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 suicideA commitment made in the plan led to

the convening of a National Advisory Groupto bring together key stakeholders to adviseWelsh Government on key issues in relationto the reduction of suicide in Wales and provide an ongoing review of the strategyin light of the evidence base and emergingbest practice. The Minister Health and SocialCare has tasked the Advisory Group withthe initial refreshment of the new strategyfor Wales since Talk to Me ends in 2014.

At the beginning of 2012 Public HealthWales reviewed the progress achievedthrough Talk to me and concluded thatgood progress had been made in improvingmental health and wellbeing through train-ing in mental health awareness and suicide intervention and through the roll out of theschools’ counselling service. There had alsobeen some improvements in mental healthservices and the management of self harm.

More recently the publication of Help isat Hand Cymru, launched in June by the

Minister, will help toaddress the needs of people who have beenbereaved through suicide.(Ed: Our picture shows DrAnn at the launch ofHelp Is At Hand, Cymru.)

Although muchprogress has be mademuch more can be done.For the next five years it isproposed that the actionplan for Wales focuses ona smaller number ofactions that are specificto suicide and self harm prevention and that buildon what has already beenachieved. This would notpreclude other action being taken eithernationally or locally. Underpinning those suicide and self-harm specific objectiveswould be the strategic objectives of Wales’mental health strategy Together for MentalHealth such as promoting mental healthand well-being.

Talk to Me – preventing suicide in Wales

In other news …NICE quality standards for initial self-harm managementNew quality standards have been published (June2013), covering the initial management of self-harmand the provision of longer-term support for childrenand young people (aged 8 years and older) and adults(aged 18 years and older) who self-harm. Supportingmaterials have also been issued alongside the qualitystandards, including encouragement for commissioningof high-quality evidence-based care for people whoself-harm. http://publications.nice.org.uk/quality-standard-for-selfharm-qs34

Review of emergency mental health careThe Care Quality Commission announced in June 2013that it is carrying out a review of emergency mentalhealth care, following recent concerns about access toappropriate treatment for people with mental healthissues. They will be focusing on people’s experience ofusing mental health services and how their needs aremet. CQC’s findings will be used to help them createmore accurate measures for assessing whether care issafe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.http://www.cqc.org.uk/media/thematic-review-mental-health-care-announced

! It has been hoped that a consensus statement be produced supported by a range ofprofessional organisations including the various Royal Colleges to encourage appropriateinvolvement 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.


Walking in hope and to send positive messages to the thousands of young people whomay need to hear it most, ourHOPEWalkers were instrumental inraising vital funds and awarenessfor the prevention of young suicide this October.

With around 20 walks takingplace in just one week. A hugethank you to the hundreds ofHOPEWalkers, supporters andsponsors (not forgetting all thebabies in buggies, the trikes, thebikes and our four-legged friends)for making it all happen. Now let’smake HOPEWalk 2014 even biggerand better – right across the UK!To be amongst the first to receiveinformation about HOPEWalk2014 please email [email protected]

This October to markWorld Mental HealthAwareness Week welaunched a series ofHOPEWalks across the UK.

HOPEWalkWirral

HOPEWalkDerby

HOPEWalkSouthampton

HOPEWalk 2013Let’s hear it for our HOPEWalkers!

! Here’s just a snapshot of some ofour HOPEWalkers but a huge thankyou goes out to all our HOPEWalkersacross the UK from up in Aberdeenright down to Portsmouth!


”

HOPEWalkWirral

HOPEWalkMoel Famau

HOPEWalkWidnes

HOPEWalkCambridge

Linda Carter,Gosport HOPEWalker

“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!

HOPEWalk 2013Exploring the use of the Internet inrelation to suicidal behaviour: call forresearch volunteers

PAPYRUS is collaborating in research by Bristol University, into howpeople use the Internet for information or support when they arefeeling suicidal or have thoughts of harming themselves.

For some years there has been much concern in the mediaand elsewhere that the Internet could encourage self-harm orsuicide, some of it prompted by PAPYRUS’s own campaign onthe issue. PAPYRUS members have personal experience of thedangers of the internet but there has been little independentresearch so we don’t have objective evidence of role the Internetplays for people having these experiences.

This study aims to find out how and why people use theInternet when they are feeling suicidal or have thoughts aboutharming themselves, and the part it has played in the eventualoutcome for the individual. We want to use the research tomake online content better and safer.

As part of the research, we will be interviewing relatives ofpeople who have died from an Internet-related suicide about theirexperiences. Interviews will be totally confidential. They will be runinformally, rather like a conversation, and will take place betweenjust 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, andManaging Trauma

PAPYRUS is supporting this research project which looks specifically atsuicide memorialisation on the internet. The study will investigatehow the internet is changing the experiences of those whose lives areaffected by suicide and how health practitioners can positivelyengage with the online environment to support these people.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the study has been approvedby the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Ethics Committee at TheUniversity of Hull.

The research involves face-to-face interviews with owners ofsuicide memorial sites and examines perceived benefits of thesesites, as well as wider implications for understanding suicide grief.

The research team is very interested to hear from anyone withexperience 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, CottinghamRoad, Hull HU6 7RXe-mail: [email protected] tel: 01482 466304

Research


As someone who dropped out ofuniversity in 2007 due to mentalhealth problems that had led to twosuicide attempts, this period of theyear is always a time of reflectionfor me. Not just on my own personal journey, but on how it canbe so easy for someone to becomedepressed and suicidal.

I suppose for me, the best way to sumup the biggest hurdle for a student goingthrough mental ill-health is this. The scariest part of my entire mental health troubles was not when I was discoveredmid-attempt, not when I was socially isolating, not when I was medicating withbooze. It was when my mother said “I thinkyou have depression”.

Because that was not in the script. I wasa failure, a liar, a pathetic waste of spacethat wanted to die – but I sure as hell wasn’tcrazy. Being a student can be a great opportunity for all sorts of personalities andinterests because as the cliché says ‘you allstart in the same boat’. Problem is that ifyou miss the boat, or accidentally fall over-board then there can seem almost no wayout. You daren’t say anything to your family

– what will they think of you? What willthey do when you don’t measure up? Youcan’t say anything to friends old or new –because to admit being in trouble ordepressed is to cast yourself as different toeveryone else – and of course only crazypeople get depressed or worse – and youknow you’re not crazy. You can’t say anything to tutors, what if they remove youfrom the course, or the university for failingto keep up? This is an incredibly lonely placeto be – the greatest irony being that this situation will be played out day after day byso many students – all of whom believe thatthey’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 whatyou see as your own shortcomings.

What you don’t realise of course, is thatuniversities will have seen this before. They

all have student support in place, be thatcounselling, facilitating extra time for dead-lines, peer support, personal tutors or otheralternatives because it is in their interest tohave students doing well and completingcourses and getting good degrees.

It strikes me now, from a distance ofnearly 6 years, that so many of these services are only advertised after an initialcrisis, so that it is often too late and thedamage of mental illness is already significant or in some cases fatal. How aboutinstead, if educational institutions said tostudents, ‘It’s OK to have mental healthissues – and with the right support we canhelp you achieve all that you want to’. Andsaid it at the outset rather than to someonewho is distraught and feels they have noplace to go. The old adage that preventionis better than cure applies here; if we canstop the stigma at the outset then not onlywill it bring it to everyone‘s attention, but itwill mean that those in a vulnerable positionare able to come forward without shameand get help.

And I say this as someone who onlyfound his way out of that stigma after twosuicide attempts.

World Suicide Prevention Day (10September each year) and World MentalHealth Awareness Week (each October)can often give that extra push to universities and others to highlight theavailability of helpful resources availableto students and staff to maintain a healthyemotional life. Some invite organisationslike PAPYRUS to have stalls at their eventsor to offer education and training.

It is no secret that students are perhaps oneof the more recognised vulnerable groups atrisk of suicide. That might be for a number ofdifferent reasons. Mainly, students experiencesignificant change all at once – perhaps thetransition from college or sixth form to a world totally unfamiliar to that of secondaryeducation. Alongside the educational changescomes the world of cooking, financial management, and overall independence, aconcept that can be a stranger to many. Ontop of all of that, a student may have movedto a new location where the stress of identifying future friendships can be a difficultconcept for those who perhaps lack the levelof self-confidence this can demand.

For some, university can help individualsidentify themselves. It might be the first timeaway from home where they are no longergoverned by rules or restrictions and many relish this. However, some students may feeloverwhelmed by the changes and additionalpressures, resulting in stress, low mood, lack ofmotivation and some have thoughts of suicide.

In 2013, the National Union of Students(NUS) reported that a large number of studentsconsider themselves to be suffering from mental health problems. 26 per cent of students were either diagnosed with a mentalhealth disorder or felt they had one but hadnot been diagnosed. Further, the report suggests that 13 per cent of students haveexperienced suicidal thoughts. Contributingfactors included coursework and exam stressalongside level of performance, balancing studywith other commitments, personal problemsand financial difficulties, amongst many otherfactors. The ONS identified that the number of student suicides has doubled in women and risen by over a third in men (The Guardian, 2012).

PAPYRUS regularly engages with educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities, to ensure studentsand staff (both academics and others) areaware of our preventative services. ! PAPYRUS believes that it should be mandatory for all staff working in universityhealth and support areas to complete trainingsuch as ASIST in order to be able to recognisesuicidal behaviours and be able to intervenewhen required. Further, academic and otherstaff should be given mandatory annualupdates in suicide awareness to improve prevention and signposting to sources of support, care and advice.! PAPYRUS believes that university studentsshould be educated about depression, taughtabout where they can go for help and beequipped with coping skills to use when timesget difficult.! PAPYRUS believes that there should be arequirement for all universities to accept theirduty 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 youngperson was a recent student, to determinewhat learning can be gained from eachtragedy and how the university could be moreresponsive to students in distress.

StudentMentalHealthPAPYRUS Suicide PreventionAdvisor Alice Newton writes:

! For more information about how your university can connect with PAPYRUS please contactour Training Team: Telephone: 01925 572 444 or e-mail: [email protected]

ReferencesNUS 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

Depressed? Who?… Me?PAPYRUS memberChris Coombswrites about his ownbattle with suicidalideation


Frequentlyasked

Q: My niece took her own life acouple of months ago and it hashit our family hard. She was abeautiful, bright and intelligentgirl who hid her pain from all ofus. I am now beginning to bemore aware of the signs of people who may be thinking ofsuicide. I am quite concernedabout my daughter. She is 16and is struggling with hercousin’s death. She writes to hercousin in her journal, whichseems to be her main avenue forcoping with her grief. She doesn’t speak to any of us aboutit though. Also, I have reason tobelieve she is self-harming. Whatcan I do? I’m worried sick.

A: We’re sorry to hear about your niece.Losing a young person to suicide is avery painful experience and you mightneed some extra support around youand your family at this time. We would advise that you encourage anatmosphere of open and honest communication at home so that eachmember of the family can feel free tosay how they feel at any time. You maywant to contact a national charity calledSOBS (Survivors of Bereavement bySuicide) which offers bereavement support through groups and its helpline0844 561 6855. Winston’s Wish is acharity for children and young peoplewho have been bereaved; you can reachthem on 08452 03 04 05.

In terms of ‘signs’ of suicidalthoughts, each person is different.However, some things to look out forare: losing interest in usual activities;changes in appetite, weight, appearanceor sleep; heavy drinking; making negative comments about themselves;hinting about suicide and death; giving away personal possessions, orwithdrawing from social occasions.

Your daughter may be trying to finda way of dealing with her grief thatworks for her, but self-harm should bediscussed. You can speak to your GPabout support or counselling, if yourdaughter feels comfortable with thatidea. TESS is a support service forfemales who self-harm; their text servicenumber is 0780 047 2908.

If you need help with how to ask her about suicidal thinking, do contact HOPELineUK and we can helpyou further.

Q: I have recently come out of along term relationship where myex boyfriend was emotionallyabusive. At the beginning hewas kind, considerate andcharming, but as time went onhe became more controlling andmade a habit of criticising mewhen we were in private. He hidhis abusive behaviour from myfamily and friends so they allthought I was really lucky tohave such a wonderful man inmy life. Now that we are nolonger together I am strugglingwith lots of emotions – missinghim, feeling suicidal, feelingthere is no future. I can’t seemyself meeting someone else.What can I do?

A: Emotionally abusive relationships canbe very difficult to overcome. They canbe very isolating and have a long lastingnegative effect on the health and well-being of the person involved. Peoplewho are abusive in their relationshipscan often be very manipulative and hidethe truth from the outside world, as partof their control over their partner.

There is help out there for people inyour situation and we would urge youto reach out and get that extra supportwhen you need it most. Relate is a charity that deals with relationshipissues, offering counselling over the‘phone or in person. Their number is0300 1000 1234. It might also be agood idea to consult your GP about possibly having some counselling whileyou’re dealing with your breakup.

Q: I’m a gay man living in a smalltown in the North of England.There’s no outlet here for thegay community and I often hearhomophobic abuse being thrownaround as a joke when I’m atwork. I haven’t told anyone thatI’m gay and I don’t feel braveenough to go to a bigger city tomeet people. I was badly bulliedin school and my self-esteem hasbeen low since then. I’ve recent-ly started to think that it mightbe better if I wasn’t alive anymore. I can’t see myself beingaccepted by my family if I didtell them about my sexuality, orif I met someone. It’s not worthgoing on, I’ll never fit in.

A: Coming to terms with your sexualityis a very important part of the development of you as a person. Gaypeople today are more vocal and ‘out’ inpublic than before, but some people stillstruggle with their sexuality because ofpressures from family, traditions andbeliefs. Learning to overcome these pressures and be safe, happy and securein your own skin is a difficult thing todo, especially if you are living in a morerural place where there is no outlet tomeet other gay people and socialise.Homophobic abuse can be common inworkplaces where the culture is ‘macho’and where people joke about sexualityand sex.

It might help to speak to GreaterManchester Lesbian and Gay Foundationhelpline – 0845 3 30 30 30 – for support and advice. The charity

Stonewall has a ‘What’s in myarea?’ section on its website,so do look there. Also, speaking to your GP in confidence about your feelings of low self esteemwill help you get some support in place – you don’tnecessarily need to tell themwhy you feel the way you do,but it would help them tounderstand and direct you tothe right organisations orpeople.

Reaching out for helpabout your suicidal thoughtsis vital – your GP or a trustedfriend will help by listeningand giving you a helpinghand.

HOPELineUK is a vital service that enables people to seek help and advice for themselves or someonethey care about. Often, people who are strugglingwith thoughts of suicide do not know who or where to turn.

HOPELineUK is able to offer hope when itseems that there is none.

If you’re struggling with life right now or areconcerned that a young person you know may begoing through a difficult time, one of our trainedadvisors will be able to help.

Life can be difficult sometimes and knowingwhat to say can often stop us from reaching out forfear of making the situation worse or being judged.Nothing is too little to talk about, speak to us today.Contact: HOPELineUK 0800 068 4141, text 07786 209697 or e-mail [email protected] Hours: 10am-5pm weekdays; 2-5pm weekends and Bank Holidays

Help + advice

Questions


! Thank you to staff at the People’s Postcode Lottery

We were delighted to have been voted by staff in the customercare team of the People’s Postcode Lottery to benefit from funds raised through the company’s online e-gaming. CharitiesAssistant, Miriam Morris explained:

“Many of our staff have expressed their interest and appreciation of this wonderful charity – we are all privileged tohave helped out.”

! Welcome back Gumballers!

Earlier this year 20 cars set out on a rickety gumball rally race across Franceto help raise funds for the Children’s Rainbow Trust, St Luke’s Hospice andPAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. With the cars worth no more than£500 each, miraculously 19 of them completed the whole journey andreturned 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 charityhas 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 byfar was the fundraising. The event has raised a massive total for our chosencharities, well beyond my personal expectations and a magnificent achievement– a great benchmark for 2014!”

! We are now looking to enter a PAPYRUS car into

the 2014 rally. If you could help source a vintage

motor (worth less than £500), please contact the

team by email ([email protected]) or

telephone 01925 572 444.

Fundraising...Corporate Support

! Monument Trust

Since spring this year, PAPYRUS hasbeen in conversation with theMonument Trust, one of the Sainsbury’sFamily Charitable Trusts. We are delighted to have been recently awarded funding over three years tohelp us create suicide safer communitiesin key regions across the UK.

This significant financial supportenables us to extend our outreach work, ensuring suicide prevention andintervention support is accessible tomore vulnerable young people whenthey need it most. Additional resourceswill help us reach out further to the 75per cent of young people at risk of suicide, who are currently unknown to mental health services.

Monument-funded programmes willbegin early next year.

! Cheshire Community Foundation

With funds awarded from this Foundation thePAPYRUS training team has been busy running a series of subsidised affordable suicide intervention and awareness-raising coursesacross Cheshire for individuals who would nototherwise be able to access this important training.

One of the beneficiaries was Lucy, who wasdelighted to secure a sponsored place on ourApplied Suicide Intervention Skills Training(ASIST):

“The course was great and I have spread the word through my team as I think it is verybeneficial for us.I have definitely used the training more than I thought I would in such ashort space of time. Following the training I’m farmore aware of the warning signs now and theASIST course has definitely made a huge difference in my current role as a community outreach worker. Thanks again, the course was fantastic!”

Grants and Trusts

Above: ASISTparticipantspractising suicide interventions

Laura fromPAPYRUS

(centre) withMyerscough

College’sStudent UnionPresidents Bev

and Dara


Maria Martin andKate Done swam a5-miles Chillswim inConiston

! Luis De Sousa cycled 100miles in Manchester! Stephen Brock andDaniel Swan undertook anincredible assault course in Kent! Sally Jenkins hosted aSummer Ball in Carlisle ! Victoria Forster andTerri-Jo Gallaghercourageously dived from the sky.

“The skydive was amazing!One of the best experiences Ihave had, and even better ithelped raise a lot of money forsuch a great charity!” (Tor Forster)! Karen Davis held a PyschicNight! Colin Looker and friends,Susan Donaldson and StuartKime, hosted a Gig Night inDurham! Nicola Voglar took part ina Triathlon in Cumbria ! Shane Horkan tackled theincredible Yorkshire ToughMudder challenge ! Susan Edwards hostedheld her annual Golf Day inBolton! Timmy Hall, StephenClark and Gareth Gardner ranthe Great Scottish Run inGlasgow! Carl Humby hosted a football tournament in Leicester

FundraisingHere are just a handful ofthose who have, in the lastfew months, been raisingfunds in their communitiesacross the UK:

Massive thanks to all our fantastic fundraisers for

their ongoing support. You are vital to PAPYRUS.

Good luck to all of you training for or planning a future

fundraising event to support PAPYRUS. Do contact our

fundraising team [email protected] for ideas,

publicity support, shirts and collection boxes.

Rosie, Johnand Rhyscompletedthe CardiffHalfMarathon

Rebecca Thompson ran the Royal

Park Half Marathon in London

Above: Annielee Kelly (second left) andfamily with TV star Ricky Tomlinson at

the PAPYRUS August Fun Day onWirral

And hereare some

of theincredible

eventscoming up

over thenext fewmonths:

Above: Stephen and Daniel’s Assault Course and Shanes’Tough Mudder (top right) – incredible challenges!

Tim and LaurenUrch ran theBristol 10K

For all our events, pleasesee our website fordetails of how you canjoin in: www.papyrus-uk.org

Please return this form to: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide,67 Bewsey Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 7JQ.

Name

Address

Post code

Phone

Email

Signed:

By filling in the Gift Aid declaration, we will be able to claim back from the Inland Revenue theincome tax that has already been paid on any donation you may make.

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

Just £3 a month helps make a difference to lives of young people in the UKwho are suffering with feelings of hopelessness, despair and suicide. Making aregular gift to PAPYRUS helps us to plan and develop our services that providea lifeline to those who need it most.

I would like to help PAPYRUS to provide practical support and advice to vulnerableyoung people across the UK and those around them.

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:

I would like to donate:

£3 £5 £10 £ enter your own amount. – per month.

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 upa 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 £

MEMBERSHIP

GIFT AID DECLARATION – I want to treat this and all donations I may make in thefuture, until I notify you otherwise, as GIFT AID DONATIONS.

For bank use:

Please pay PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide the sum of £ (in words: pounds) on the first day of next month and everyyear*/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.

Date:Please Note: Remember to notify us if you no longer pay an amount of Income Tax/Capital Gain Tax equalto the tax we reclaim on your donation. This declaration can be cancelled at any time by notifying PAPYRUS.

Signed:

Please ensure that both account holders sign if necessary Date:

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 willreclaim on my gifts for the current tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax donot qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.

! Myerscough College electsPAPYRUS as charity of the year

Students at Lancashire’s MyerscoughCollege will be raising funds and aware-ness throughout the year to help preventyoung suicide. Having recently chosenPAPYRUS by vote, the college’s charitycommittee is already planning its fundrais-ing activities for the year ahead.

The partnership was launched at thecollege’s annual Mental Health andWellbeing Day where students were ableto learn more about the support availablefor any young person at risk of suicideand how they can get involved to helpsave young lives.

! Inspiration for FestiveFundraisingIf you’ve been inspired by some of ouramazing fundraisers why not join in withsome festive fundraising with your friends.If you like our festive tasting menu we’dlove 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 [email protected] or visitwww.papyrus-uk.org/fundraising for aRegistration Form, and we’ll help you getthe ball rolling.

! Catherine Pinnock is hosting an

‘Out of Darkness Walk’ in South

Gloucestershire

! Sophie Elliot is holding a bake sale

and raffle in Reading

! Richard Dickinson and his Oasis

tribute band are organising a Gig night in

Warrington! Jacqueline Reid is hosting her final

Burlesque night in Aberdeen

! Hayley Leadbeater and her family

are swimming a marathon relay in Flitwick

Please don’t forgetGift Aid … simply by Gift

Aiding your fundraising you

are raising an additional

25p per £1.

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

Documents

Transcript of PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide