Today we’re celebrating #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, encouraging colleagues to #StartTheConversation today in the knowledge that every chat, regardless of how small, can help to build a more supportive and understanding society.
Changing the narrative around suicide requires a cultural and systemic change. It is important we shift from silence and stigma to openness, understanding and support. This is particularly important in the context that suicide can affect us all. Indeed, the North East remains one of the highest areas of prominence for suicide, only heightening the importance of prevention and awareness amongst our workforce.
Below you can find some of the ways we’re marking the occasion – and hopefully better supporting you!
New Crisis Support Page:
While we have long-since had a Suicide Prevention page which features handy resources such as our manager’s guide to supporting staff during times of crisis and Zero Suicide Alliance’s 20-minute lifesaving suicide prevention training, a dedicated crisis support page to give you clear instruction on where to turn to if you’re in crisis yourself has been missing from our website.
Thankfully, that has now all changed with our new Crisis Support webpage launching and coinciding with the launch of the all-new urgent mental health support phoneline, accessible by calling 111 and selecting option 2.
On this page you’ll also find out more about other support options, including when it might be suitable to visit Accident & Emergency and when free listening services available through organisations such as Samaritans might be of use.
Defuser Training:
The health and wellbeing team recently received confirmation that funding has been secured to train a limited number of new Mental Health Defusers (as well as offer refresher sessions to some of our current defusers), helping to bolster our organisational post critical incident support and debriefing.
Places for these are sessions likely to offered on a targeted basis and arranged through SLMs in clinical areas for the most-part, but if it sounds like something you may be of interest please do register your interest via email on [email protected].
Mental Health First Aiders:
If you’re after someone to #StartTheConversation with, there might be no group better placed than our Mental Health First Aiders. Trained in non-judgmental listening and skilled in signposting, our MHFAs are always there for colleagues who are looking for a listening ear and someone to listen to their concerns.
Mental Health First Aid training opportunities continue to be offered into 2025 in spite of certain training currently being stood down due to organisational pressures. One-day line manager training sessions continue to be available this year, while colleagues can also book the 2-day First Aider course for dates in 2025. To do so or learn more about these courses, just check out our sign-up form!
