PAPYRUS Newsletter - March 2017

NEWS

BEHIND THE BRAVE FACE, SOMEONE COULD BE DYING FOR HELP. Ask about suicide. #braveface | papyrus-uk.org

HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41 Young people are dying for help.

Suicide is a national crisis – pages 4-5

Newsletter Edition Number 58 (March 2017)

In this Issue: Dear members and friends of PAPYRUS

Highlights 04-05

Suicide is a national crisis

06-07

My story - Get Gaz A Lift

10-11

Volunteering with PAPYRUS

12-13

Encouraging young people to ask for help

16-17

Challenging the stigma of suicide

18-19

Keeping young people safe online

22-23

Supporter news and activities

This year we mark 20 years as a charity, a milestone which engenders mixed feelings – pride at work achieved but sadness and anger at the numbers of young lives lost to suicide in this time. We have been meeting with some of you at our events in different regions and hope to continue to do so to increase the momentum we need to grow PAPYRUS so that others may find hope and a place to help prevent future deaths.

This newsletter is also available on our website

Get in Touch

West Midlands Regional Office:

Head Office: Lineva House 28-32 Milner Street Warrington Cheshire WA5 1AD

Tel: 01925 572 444 Fax: 01925 240 502 www.papyrus-uk.org

516-517 The Green House The Custard Factory Gibb Street Birmingham B9 4DP Tel: 0121 437 0411

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide in the UK. Registered Charity Number 1070896.

A list of PAPYRUS Trustees is available on our website.

Patrons Rt Hon David Hanson MP Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP

Honorary Advisor Professor David Gunnell – University of Bristol Design sponsored by TBWA\Manchester

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The unique contribution of those who have been touched by a young suicide makes PAPYRUS what it is. This influences all that our dedicated staff teams do in providing services to young people in distress and to those supporting them. Each month our staff and trustees engage with hundreds of individuals, working across different communities, influencing policy makers, often working in partnership with other organisations, to deliver the change we need. Our recent #braveface social media campaign (on the front cover) aimed to raise awareness that the image many young people present to the outside world may not reflect how they are feeling inside – and that we must ask about suicide to save lives. Together we continue to work towards a society where young people experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings can find hope, and are given the support they need and deserve.

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter electronically please let us know by email: admin@papyrus-uk.org

HOPELineUK is a confidential support and advice service for young people under the age of 35 who may be having thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned about a young person. For suicide prevention advice contact HOPELineUK: Call: 0800 068 41 41 Text: 07786 209 697 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org Opening hours: 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends, and 2pm-5pm Bank Holidays.

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 PAPYRUS Trustees.

You have helped us achieve much over the years – our work to keep young people suicide-safe online saw the launch of the findings of our research project with the Samaritans and the University of Bristol in November 2016 (see pages 18-19). Our campaign to change the Standard of Proof used at inquest by coroners gained the support of the Health Committee in December 2016 (see pages 4-5). Many of our longstanding concerns and campaigns were addressed by the Prime Minister in her keynote speech in January 2017. You can read our response on page 15.

We were delighted to have your support in reaching the required number of votes to become a finalist in the AVIVA Community Fund, and even more thrilled to win £25,000 as a result, which will fund our Suicide Safer Communities volunteer project.

This vital funding means we will be able to support more young people experiencing thoughts of suicide, and your support and your commitment to the cause raised much awareness across the UK both on and off line. Thank you so much.

I am aware that the countless fundraising events, donations, grants, commissions and gifts in kind we have received in the last few months alone, all help to save young lives. For these and for all you do, heartfelt thanks.

Ged Flynn Chief Executive

PAPYRUS is 20 in 2017

20 years of preventing young suicide

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SUICIDE IS A NATIONAL CRISIS

THE LAW MUST STOP HIDING ITS TRUE EXTENT

Stephen Habgood, PAPYRUS Chairman, writes why we must ensure that the Standard of Proof for conclusions of death by suicide is changed – something for which PAPYRUS has campaigned for years.

In the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people under 35, according to the Office for National Statistics. Suicide leaves parents, partners and families devastated and broken, as I know only too well following the suicide of my son Christopher in 2009. As Chairman of PAPYRUS, I know that I am not alone in feeling that the way in which coroners determine death in such cases can perpetuate stigma around suicide.

PAPYRUS represents and works with hundreds of families who have been touched by suicide. We are angry that our loved ones were allowed to die; that not enough was done to keep them alive. And we are angry that the current government has not taken this issue seriously enough.

In February 2013 Ged Flynn and I met the newly appointed Chief Coroner Peter Thornton QC to express the view that it is fundamentally wrong to apply the criminal Standard of Proof, ‘beyond reasonable 04

doubt’, when determining the cause of death in suicide, which means that many suicides are recorded as undetermined deaths. Judge Thornton wrote to me in March 2013 saying: “I am supportive of the change which would reduce the standard of proof for suicide to the civil standard and have expressed the view to the Ministry of Justice.”

Yet, even with the support of its own Chief Coroner, the government has continued to accept the use of the criminal standard in reaching suicide conclusions. In fact, the Ministry of Justice has steadfastly refused to change the way that coroners reach a suicide conclusion, despite our persistent requests.

This leads those of us campaigning on this issue to conclude that they want to deliberately suppress the figures around the number of people who take their own life each year.

Coroners are understandably reluctant to reach a conclusion of suicide. Many families do not want to hear that their family member, especially a child, ended their own life. Yet the stigma that exists around suicide is still very damaging and not helped by high-profile examples where coroners have concluded that the deceased died because of an accident, or where a narrative verdict has been returned when the evidence clearly shows that the person took their own life.

"We are angry that our loved ones were allowed to die; that not enough was done to keep them alive.

And we are angry that the current government has not taken this issue seriously enough."

Professor Colin Pritchard at Bournemouth University(1) suggests that if coroners used the civil Standard of Proof – ‘the balance of probabilities’- we would see a 30-50% increase in recorded suicides. His research validates the view held by PAPYRUS that the current arrangements mask the true number of suicides in the UK. In correspondence with the Ministry of Justice, it is clear that the department’s view is that using a criminal Standard of Proof does not necessarily criminalise suicide. The coroner must establish ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that the deceased person had intended to end their life. PAPYRUS believes that the notion of ‘intent’ is important in this context: in English criminal law, intention is one of the types of mens rea, ‘guilty mind’, that, when accompanied by an actus reus, ‘guilty act’, constitutes a crime.

It is surprising that we use a criminal concept and a criminal Standard of Proof to determine the outcome of an act that was decriminalised by the Suicide Act of 1961. Many still use the phrase ‘committed suicide’, which can be offensive and perpetuates a sense of criminality.

In a November 2014 meeting with the then Justice Minister Simon Hughes, the Ministry of Justice argued that a change to the law would offend faith groups. In the view of PAPYRUS the determination of a cause of death should be about establishing the facts, not about appeasing any particular sector of the community. By being honest about the number of people who end their life, we will be able to keep far more of our young people alive.

The House of Commons Health Committee’s interim report on suicide prevention was published just a few weeks ago. The committee supports our objective to see a change to the way in which a suicide conclusion is reached. It also supports many of our key campaign areas: more timely support for young people; clearer media guidance around the reporting of suicide; support for those who have been touched by suicide; training for GPs and others.

PAPYRUS has written again to the Ministry of Justice, pressing the current Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice for urgent action to change the law so that coroners might use the civil Standard of Proof to reach a suicide conclusion.

References: (1) http://tinyurl.com/je3onfl A longer version of this article appeared on The Guardian website on 9 January 2017.

We need the support of our members and supporters to ensure that the law is changed. To find out how you can help, visit: www.papyrus-uk.org/about/our-campaigns

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people would see the t-shirts and ask what they meant.

MY STORY PAPYRUS supporter Gareth Owens shares his experience of fundraising for PAPYRUS and why he's on a mission to get people talking about mental health and suicide.

I first heard of PAPYRUS by chance. I saw on Facebook that a friend of mine had mentioned the charity in a post and decided to have a look. When I read more I couldn't have been more surprised. Seeing the figures of young people who take their own lives and the number of young people affected by mental health issues every year stunned me.

I'd always had this preconceived idea that suicide was something that never affected people who lived a ‘normal’ life, and that if you didn't think about it, then it didn't exist in your own circle. But being a young man, growing up in a forever changing and challenging world, I wouldn’t be being honest if I said my mental health hadn’t been affected by many of the challenges we face in everyday life – from dealing with the loss of loved ones, to the pressures of leaving school, starting work, or relationships and family life.

And those are just the basics.

that feeling. It hit home and made me want to change the way people in my community view and talk about suicide.

When I read about PAPYRUS I knew the time was right to do something – and I knew that if I was going to get people talking, I needed to do something different.

After living in New Zealand for a good few years, and constantly being broke after spending my money on cheap beer and weekend trips, I often found myself stood on the side of the road, thumbing lifts from place to place and had such a laugh.

All of a sudden I had an idea to thumb my way around Wales, with the idea that you don't have to know somebody to give them a lift if they’re struggling. I then thought well lets actually get people involved, so I came up with the hashtag #GetGazALift for people to follow me back home.

I remember when I was in We need secondary school, being Before I knew it, I'd told my friends more young called down into the hall I was hitch hiking 1,100km around people, especially and seeing my teachers the outskirts of Wales and was young men, out and my fellow students in hoping to spark a conversation there talking about tears, because a lad a few about mental health and suicide. suicide years older than me had I started making t-shirts and selling gone home the night before them, adding the profits to my and ended his life. I’ll never forget JustGiving page, with the idea that 06

I spent five days out on the road, thumbed 44 lifts, travelled 650 miles, and met some amazing people. I was fed, put up for the evening, and met people who'd been affected or touched by suicide. I met people who'd lost friends, loved ones, and someone who'd attempted suicide but eventually found hope.

By the time I came home, 35,000 people had followed my challenge on Facebook, and my home-made video had received 21,000 views! In the weeks that followed, I took part in radio interviews, a live television interview, and BBC Wales wrote an article about my story. I was stopped in bars with people congratulating me on what I'd done and how it had affected them. It really hit home that I was onto something here.

Get Gaz A Lift in action!

talking more openly and sensitively about suicide, despite what others may tell you, is really positive.

I owe it to PAPYRUS for being the spark I needed to do something different and try to make a difference. From the support I had, the merchandise the charity sent out, and the positivity of the team, they really drove After the dust had settled, I thought why stop? We need more young people, especially me on. It was a pleasure being able to raise young men, out there talking about suicide. I £2,000 for them through my trip, and I will registered ‘Get Gaz A Lift’ as a non-profitable continue to support them and the work they do to save young lives. organisation, which now allows me to donate the proceeds from my merchandise Follow my work and adventure on to a number of mental health charities, run Facebook.com/getgazalift events, and speak publicly about mental health and suicide prevention. I want to show that speaking about your mental health doesn't make you crazy or different and that

Gaz on set at the studio, and taking part in a live interview 07

News from our Birmingham Office

We receive a wide variety of questions at PAPYRUS HOPELineUK, our national helpline; you may find our responses to these examples helpful:

In October 2016 we made two new appointments to our West Midlands team, with Neil Pensom joining as Regional Development Officer and Aarti Kumari as a new Training Officer.

After several years and many memorable moments at our regional office in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter, with our expanded team we needed new office space that would help us to continue to grow and expand our activities in the West Midlands. At the beginning of 2017 we moved into our new offices in The Custard Factory in Birmingham’s Digbeth area, recognised for its strong charitable sector presence and creativity.

The West Midlands team

The year ahead is sure to be an exciting one. We have been busy planning our involvement in Birmingham Pride, delivering suicide prevention training across the region, recruiting new volunteers to help us in our work, and engaging with local decision makers to ensure full consideration is given to those at risk of or affected by young suicide.

If you’re based in the West Midlands and want to get involved, the team would love to hear from you.

Contact enquirieswm@papyrus-uk.org

Help #TalkThroughTheTaboo of young suicide Get your hands on our new #TalkThroughTheTaboo coasters, posters and conversation starters! Visit our online shop or email admin@papyrus-uk.org with your order.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have three social media accounts I use every day.

Most of my friends are on there and I see all of their statuses and pictures. Everyone else is so happy and achieving so much, but I have nothing to show or post about. No one comments on my pictures or posts anymore. I have nothing to show for my life and the pressure to achieve what others have is too much. There’s no point in me existing any more, I just want to end it all.

Q: I’m the mother of a 17 year old girl. She’s always been fairly quiet and struggled in school at times, but never seemed to have any particular worries. Recently she’s stopped going out with her friends and is shutting me out too. She’s stopped going to the sports club she normally loves and is even reluctant to have meals with us.

I’ve tried to talk to her, but she told me there was no point and she just wants to be on her own. I’m really concerned she may be feeling suicidal but I don’t want to say this to her in case she isn’t and it makes her think about suicide.

A: It can be hard not to compare ourselves to others when we’re online. Although social media allows us to connect and share things with those close to us, it can also mean we see only a very narrow perspective of other people’s lives.

Sometimes taking a break from social media can help. You mentioned you feel as though you have nothing in your own life in comparison – have you thought about speaking with your friends to see if this is a feeling they share? Please remember you are not alone in feeling this way and it’s really brave to ask for help. At HOPELineUK we take your thoughts of suicide seriously and our advisors will work with you to help you stay suicide-safe and access longerterm support.

A: Seeing this difference in your daughter must be really difficult. From what she has said to you, it sounds like suicide might be on her mind. We want to reassure you that asking about suicide will not put the idea in her head – asking will actually give your daughter an opening and a safe place to talk if she is having suicidal thoughts. Asking directly about suicide in a calm and clear way is really important. Take a look at the PAPYRUS website for more information about how to start the conversation; you can also call our HOPELineUK helpline service for help and advice.

For confidential advice and support on how to help a young person at risk, or if you are a young person thinking about suicide, speak with our professional advisors at: HOPELineUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07786 209 697 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org 09

Why I volunteer for PAPYRUS Hannah Hughes is a Governance Administrator within the Specialist Services Division at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. She was an active volunteer for PAPYRUS in 2016, raising over £4,200.

I came into contact with PAPYRUS through a project commissioned to help tackle the rising number of suicides and attempted suicides across Stockport and Tameside.

My role was simply to help initiate the project. However having attended a number of discussions and awareness sessions facilitated by PAPYRUS, I felt I could do more to help people in my community.

I wanted to help destigmatise and raise awareness to help people to open up about suicide, so I became a volunteer and started campaigning for PAPYRUS. Before venturing out into the community, I completed the ASIST course (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills training). This twoday course gave me the skills to intervene and provide suicide first-aid if needed.

"I WANTED TO HELP DESTIGMATISE AND RAISE AWARENESS TO HELP PEOPLE TO OPEN UP UP ABOUT SUICIDE" Following the ASIST course, I began to think about how I could engage with local communities to raise awareness of suicide prevention and the fantastic support and training PAPYRUS provides. I aimed to reachh as many different audiences as possible with a range of different methods: • sending awareness letters to local businesses, which included the facts around suicide and information on PAPYRUS training; • handing out promotional leaflets and business cards with PAPYRUS information on;

Supporting PAPYRUS on Kilimanjaro

It was interactive and engaging and gave me confidence that I would be able to help someone in their moment of need. The skills I gained will stay with me and even if I only have to use them once, then that is one life saved!

• encouraging friends and family to hold fundraisers and display posters in their work places; • promoting PAPYRUS through social media; • organising a fundraiser and raffle with young people in Manchester; • and… Climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money!

I also set up and ran Purple4PAPYRUS, an online campaign to raise awareness and funds via social media. Participants were asked to post pictures of themselves wearing purple, and donate by text with a chance to win a prize. I also did a radio interview with Pure Radio about the campaign to help drive up the number of participants!

Fellow Kilimanjaro climbers

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These projects allowed me to be creative and connect with people in the community I might not have had the chance to meet previously.

They also helped me realise that volunteering doesn’t have to mean undertaking major, intense projects – you can help promote vital services just by handing out flyers or putting up posters, or raising money by holding a bake sale or quiz night.

PAPYRUS really supported me throughout my volunteering. The staff checked all the documents I created and shared, to make sure that they were appropriate and contained the most relevant and up-to-date information.

Materials such as posters, leaflets, contact cards, wristbands, and pens were available to help me promote PAPYRUS and staff were always available to help and advise when I was stuck with an idea or a way to progress with a project. I felt like part of PAPYRUS from the moment I began working with them.

In 2015, recorded statistics show that 1,659 young people took their own lives and the true number is likely to be much higher.

Suicide prevention is everyone’s business.

With continued awareness-raising, training, and campaigns to break the stigma and silence around suicide, young people will be able to open up and discuss their feelings.

This will save young lives.

“THE SKILLS I GAINED WILL STAY WITH ME AND EVEN IF I ONLY HAVE TO USE THEM ONCE, THAT THAT IS ONE LIFE SAVED!"

Handing out healthy snacks at Park Run

Toby - Purple4PAPYRUS winner!

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to overcome poor mental health, especially where possible through outdoor activities like hill-walking and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which Cameron enjoyed so much.

PAPYRUS member Evan Grant lost his son Cameron to suicide in 2014.

He shares his story and mission to save young lives.

Our biggest project to date is ‘Cameron’s Coasters’. These are simple drink mats which carry the message ‘Don’t bottle it up…’ on one side, and contact details for organisations which can help on the other. Our first coaster (pictured), which we have placed

Encouraging young

people suffering in silence to ask for help.

The evening of Friday 14 November 2014 seemed like a normal evening, a good one even. My wife Carol and I had been at our village sports club for a ‘curry and jazz’ night, Scotland had beaten Ireland in the Euro qualifiers, and we were settling in at home to watch Children in Need. The doorbell rang; I answered to find two young police officers asking if I knew Cameron Grant. Life became a bad movie. The officers politely insisted that Carol and I sat down before they would talk further. We sat in our familiar places while they stood by our fireplace. In the sterile, objective language that the police must use, they explained that a man’s body had been found, that Cameron’s wallet was with the body and that, while it wasn’t possible to be certain, there was little doubt the body was Cameron. They already knew enough to tell us that the man had taken his own life.

More than two years later, these initial moments are stark and clear, but time then passed in a blur. We found the letter Cameron left us. We learned he had suffered from depression for over seven years,

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Evan and Cameron Grant outside St James's Palace, where Cameron collected his Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award on 13 October 2014

and chosen to fight this on his own. The Cameron we knew was thriving in his third year studying geology at university, loved playing Ultimate Frisbee and was Treasurer for his University Ultimate Frisbee Club. He’d just received his Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award and celebrated his 21st with us at a warm, happy family party. Nobody anywhere, even with the benefit of hindsight, had any inkling that Cameron was ill. His death was a complete and total shock.

In common with many who take their own life, Cameron felt the world would be a better place without him; that we would all be better off. In common with many who lose someone close to suicide, we found immediate and fierce determination to do something – anything – that might save other families from the same tragedy. This determination drove us forward to establish the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust with these objectives: to raise awareness of young suicide; to urge all who are suffering in silence to speak up and seek help; and to support young people who are fighting

“IN COMMON WITH MANY WHO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE, CAMERON FELT THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT HIM” in local pubs and clubs, has national helplines, including the details of PAPYRUS HOPELineUK. We have worked with universities and colleges to customise Cameron’s coasters so that the sources of help and support are relevant to each place they are used.

We have also begun to work with schools and sixth form colleges, and with companies – coasters work just as well with a glass of water or a cup of coffee as with any other drink.

With over 150,000 already being used in 47 universities, colleges and other communities, Cameron’s Coasters have been well received.

We’ve had some very encouraging feedback, including emails from students who said they didn’t know where to go for help till they found a coaster, and from wellbeing staff who told us that young people felt more able to ask for help after seeing them: “I didn’t know I could talk to you till I read it on the coaster”. This gives us hope that we can help other families to avoid our fate. Whether with coasters, or by other means, we will continue to encourage all suffering in silence to speak up and ask for help.

“WE FOUND IMMEDIATE DETERMINATION TO DO SOMETHING – ANYTHING – THAT MIGHT SAVE OTHER FAMILIES FROM THE SAME TRAGEDY”

The Cameron Grant Memorial Trust is always on the lookout for communities that want to use Cameron’s Coasters – if you would like some, please get in touch on info@camgrant.org.uk or via the website: www.camgrant.org.uk/events/cameronscoasters

Evan, Carol and Cameron Grant on a family holiday in July 2013.

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New PAPYRUS Patron

Signs of Hope?

As we head into our 20th year, we are delighted to announce Norman Lamb as a Patron of PAPYRUS.

PAPYRUS welcomes moves to improve suicide prevention through the government’s publication of an updated Suicide Prevention Strategy on 9 January 2017.

Norman is MP for North Norfolk. A Liberal Democrat, he served as Caring Services Minister in the Coalition Government until May 2015 and played a significant and lead role in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2010). He is Chair of the Mental Health Commission for the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Norman is a passionate advocate for and speaker on mental health issues, in recent times specifically with a focus on issues around suicide. He has also spoken publicly of his personal connections to mental illness and suicide.

We look forward to working closely with this great champion of young people’s mental health and wellbeing in the years to come.

“I believe that whenever someone takes their own life through suicide it is not just a tragedy - it should be a reminder that we must work towards a system where this simply does not happen. This is something we can achieve. Together we can save thousands of lives.”

Norman Lamb MP

PAPYRUS had written to Theresa May in July 2016 on her becoming Prime Minister, to address pressing concerns about the prevention of young suicide. After her keynote speech on mental health, we wrote to thank Mrs May for prioritising mental health in this key speech, which we found very encouraging. We were particularly heartened to hear the government’s intention to improve resources for and review the work of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, something about which many in the PAPYRUS community have been campaigning for many years. We welcome the investment in mental health training to support children in schools, and a commitment that, by 2021, no child will be sent away from their local area to receive mental health support.

We have also written again to the Lord Chancellor to press for urgent action on the question of the continuing use of the criminal Standard of Proof used by coroners in reaching a conclusion of suicide at inquest (see pp 4-5). We have urged the Prime Minister to lend her personal support to this important campaign area which PAPYRUS has led on for over four years.

If the government’s refreshed strategy is resourced and implemented, we will indeed see a reduction in suicide. PAPYRUS will do all in its power to help with this. If we continue to speak to broken parents whose lives have been devastated by the loss of a young person to suicide, we will continue to create as much noise as possible to press that more must be done to prevent young suicide.

PAPYRUS hopes that the Prime Minister’s words are now translated into real action and that, longer term, they help to prevent suicide among young people and others – something which remains our number one priority.

PAPYRUS Online Forum

Volunteer for PAPYRUS and help #SmashSuicideStigma

Many people contact PAPYRUS to share their story, talk about what they are doing to help our work and much more. To provide a focus, and access for others, we have introduced an online forum on our website. Please do use it and comment, share and learn what others are doing in young suicide prevention. You may have been touched personally by suicide; you may have a pearl of wisdom to help and inspire others who are struggling.

We're looking for a range of people aged 18+ from the North-West to be one of 120 community members trained in ASIST, who will deliver at least one suicide prevention activity within their chosen community. We are also looking for people to be part of a new youth forum helping to design and develop a self-care marketing campaign for young people across the North-West.

Whether you are a young person, a family member, friend, fundraiser, or a campaigner, please share what you do as part of PAPYRUS. You may well inspire someone else and it could save a young life!

You’ll find the forum at papyrus-uk.org/forum The forum is moderated by PAPYRUS staff to ensure it is a suicide-safe space.

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Furthermore, we warmly welcome the Prime Minister’s speech on mental health. Much of what she said gives real hope to those who struggle with poor mental health and to those who work tirelessly to support them.

These opportunities are connected with two suicide prevention and self-care projects funded by Cheshire Community Foundation and the Red Sea Pedestrians, and will run throughout 2017.

If you would like to get involved please contact Catherine Parsons, project coordinator, before the close of April 2017: catherine.parsons@papyrus-uk.org 15

EVEN NURSES AREN'T IMMUNE TO THE STIGMA OF SUICIDE

PAPYRUS Trustee Sarah Fitchett is a Lecturer in Neonatal Care at the University of Salford. She lost her 14-year-old son Ben to suicide in 2013.

RDS A W A T N A R G S D N LA ID M Increasing Awareness T WES

The Fitchett family

In England, one person dies every two hours as a result of suicide. It is the leading cause of death for young people, both male and female, in the UK – in 2015 1,659 children and young people aged 10 to 34 took their own lives.

PAPYRUS HOPELineUK receives as many as 1,000 contacts each week from young people experiencing thoughts of suicide, or those concerned a young person may be at risk.

And yet, we still aren’t talking about it.

Part of the problem is that people are scared of having conversations about suicide.

Friends and relatives of people at risk may be afraid to intervene in case they say ‘the wrong thing’.

And it isn’t just relatives and friends who don’t know what to say. In my 25 years of NHS nursing experience I have seen nurses and medical staff remain silent when faced 16

Ben

with suicidal patients. It is not uncommon for nurses to be afraid they will say something wrong – and increase the risk of harm – if they discuss suicide, or what triggered a patient’s suicidal thoughts.

Prevention Training Suicide intervention training could make a big difference to frontline staff. It must be mandatory not just for nurses and doctors, but for teachers and school support staff, youth workers, police, and clergy. The skills learned include how to talk to someone about their feelings in a way that makes them feel listened to and understood – without judgement or trying to problem-solve.

Suicide intervention training teaches staff not to be afraid of these types of conversations and helps to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of suicidal behaviour which might otherwise be missed.

University nursing programmes should include scenarios involving suicide – and include suicide assessment, conversation starters, evaluation, referral skills PAPYRUS received and a grant –award regardless of specialty.

By building a from the Clothworkers FoundationofLivery Fund support community people whotohave developed a West Midlands Suicide Safer skills through training we are more likely Communities Project.

The grant to be able to identify someone at risk and will fund a part-time Suicide intervene to keep them safe.

Prevention Trainer and Coordinator who will manage the project and Reducing Stigma deliver suicide prevention work Knowing how to haveand these across Birmingham theconversations is vitalMidlands. because there are very significant West

As well as across-the-board training for healthcare professionals, there needs to be awareness-raising Supporting our existing in schools. Children, at an early age, need Youth Champions Forum, a to know there is group of young volunteers help and support available to them if they who work across the city need it. PAPYRUS will continue to lobby of Birmingham raising the media to be sensitive in their coverage awareness of PAPYRUS, our of HOPELineUK helpline suicide and suicidal behaviour, because service, and the importance what’s seen on our televisions and read of self-care. about in newspapers or magazines can be a significant influence on young people.

Relocating the PAPYRUS It is by encouraging the wider public to have West Midlands office difficulties for family members and friends Supporting PAPYRUS these types of discussions baseand to a conversations larger, more HOPELineUK by raising The project help toand sustain and to a in trying to will recognise respond of suicide can bespace. reduced. accessible This thethat profithe le ofstigma our develop our suicide prevention work suicidal crisis. The signs and communications will allow usopenly, to work face helpline services across The more we talk about suicide the in the area crisis by: are often ambiguous and to face with young people of suicidal the West Midlands sooner we reduce the stigma that surrounds and members of through a dedicated difficult to interpret. it. Suicidal feelings do notthe have to end in *Increasing the delivery of free and community. marketing campaign. accessible suicide prevention Rather than getting the helptraining; they need, suicide – talking openly about suicide ranging with from suicidal 90 minute awareness people thoughts and feelings saves lives. raisingbottle sessions to the often them up two-day and try to get on with A longer version of this article ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Delivering a Suicide Safer things.

So although there are sources of help appeared in Thefor Conversation Skills Training). Priority audiences will Communities Young readily available, they are not always accessed project, which will on 5People October 2016: include schools, colleges, universities, or not always accessed or used. engage 20 young volunteers, GPused surgeries, NHS Trusts, and parents. http://theconversation.com training them in suicide When their to own life, We willsomeone also train takes volunteers deliver prevention first aid, and the onprevention their family and friends is basiceffect suicide awarenesssupporting them to deliver devastating.

The shame and negative raising sessions. suicide prevention activities associations with this type of death – in their own communities. known as suicide stigma – has been around for centuries and continues today.

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SUICIDAL PEOPLE NEED BETTER ONLINE SUPPORT FROM CLINICIANS AND HELP GROUPS

“What we haven’t known until now is precisely how many people use the internet when they are feeling suicidal, who they are, why they do this and how they interpret the material that they view. This information is vital if we are to minimise harm but also to work out how we can capitalise on the potential to use the internet as a vehicle for reaching out to those in need.”

Dr Lucy Biddle

Findings released from research into suicide and the online environment conducted by the University of Bristol in conjunction with PAPYRUS.

Improve clinicians’ understanding of the online world, review web-based support services for vulnerable people and safeguard the public against pro-suicide content. Those are some of the recommendations being put to the internet industry, health providers and suicide prevention services after researchers mapped how people with suicidal feelings use the internet.

The report, produced by the University of Bristol, PAPYRUS and Samaritans, was presented to representatives from the internet industry, health providers and suicide prevention services in a bid to minimise the potential for harm and improve accessibility to services for those in need.

The study drew on data from the Bristolbased ‘Children of the 90s’ cohort.

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In a sub-study of 21-year-old participants who had made suicide attempts (248 out of the overall 4,000, or six per cent of the overall sample) almost three quarters reported some kind of suicide-related internet use at some point in their lives.

One in five had accessed sites giving information on how to hurt or kill yourself,

Examining the experiences of more than 4,000 people, researchers found that of those who did report having had suicidal thoughts, a high proportion had looked for information about suicide online, some of which involved researching methods. And an abundance of material that was likely to cause harm was easily accessible.

Researchers did find evidence regarding the preventative influence of the internet but while some individuals were found to derive peer support from online groups, considerable dissatisfaction was expressed with formal online help.

“We urgently need to find the better ways of supporting people online and understanding the way they use the internet, so that we can try and protect them,” said lead investigator Dr Lucy Biddle, Senior Lecturer in Medical Sociology at Bristol’s School of Social and Community Medicine.

“YOU TUBE AND WIKIPEDIA ARE ADVISED TO TAKE DOWN HARMFUL CONTENT AND SEARCH ENGINES COULD HELP BY ENSURING SUPPORTIVE RATHER THAN HARMFUL CONTENT COMES UP WHEN SEARCHING” though most of these had also visited help sites. Nearly 1 in 10 (9.1 per cent) had used the internet to discuss suicidal feelings and 7.5 per cent had searched for information on suicide using a search engine. 8.2 per cent had visited help sites.

Popular sites and search engines like Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter could do more to reduce risks, say the researchers as part of their recommendations. YouTube and Wikipedia are advised to take down harmful content and search engines could help by

ensuring supportive rather than harmful content comes up when searching.

PAPYRUS shared with industry representatives that many families discovered only after a death that the internet had played a significant part in the suicide of the young person who had taken his or her own life: “This study shows how suicidal young people still seek help online but also find information on how to end their lives. Whilst it is good to see fewer pro-suicide sites these days, we must never be complacent. PAPYRUS still asks internet providers to take their responsibilities seriously when providing platforms for information that can kill young people.

We can all play our part in making the online environment suicide safer for young people and those who care for them.”

(PAPYRUS).

PAPYRUS is indebted to all its members who shared their experience with the researchers for this study and to Martyn Piper who led this work on behalf of the charity.

For more information, see: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2016 /november/suicide-internet.html

“POPULAR SITES AND SEARCH ENGINES LIKE GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, YOU TUBE AND TWITTER COULD DO MORE TO REDUCE RISKS”

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PAPYRUS delivers suicide prevention awareness training to GPs

Training with PAPYRUS Sarah Morley is a Safeguarding Officer at a Further Education College in East Lancashire. Of many training courses undertaken she believes ASIST with PAPYRUS has had the most positive impact.

I completed ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills) training in January 2015.

I’ve undertaken many different safeguarding courses, but the training with PAPYRUS has had the most positive impact on my role and the daily techniques I use during practice.

Young people struggling with emotional difficulties are one of our main safeguarding issues and we have supported a number of students with suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self harm. The training has given me more confidence to ask someone directly if they are having suicidal thoughts. Most of the young people I see are grateful that someone has noticed that they have not been themselves, and relieved to say that they feel suicidal out loud. It’s the beginning of a safe way out of the dark.

ASIST taught me the power of silence when listening to a young person talking about their suicidal thoughts – or indeed in any difficult conversation. Asking direct questions, and then being silent and listening to their answer, gives someone the opportunity to think about how they feel, and why they feel that way, in a safe place. It shows them that you’re not just listening, but you’re actually hearing what they have to say. Supporting them to make their own safety plan, instead of following a natural instinct to try and ‘solve’ their problem, is so valuable.

Using the skills I developed through the training with PAPYRUS has meant that many young people I work with feel safe enough to make a disclosure, figure out themselves why 20

Report from Louise Bloomfield, Suicide Prevention Advisor and Trainer

Sarah Morley

Signposting to Primary Care for support and treatment is best practice, and is recommended: GPs are the gatekeepers to other specialised support. However, what happens when the GP simply doesn’t know what to do?

they might be having suicidal thoughts, think about their reasons to live, and make their own decisions and safety plan to get the right help and support.

PAPYRUS was recently invited to deliver Suicide Prevention Awareness sessions for GPs and Safeguarding Leads as part of a large Clinical Commissioning Group in the West Midlands.

Participants described it as ‘excellent’ and ‘thought provoking’. The sad truth is that the majority of what was shared was new information.

If I could give any advice to a young person struggling with suicidal thoughts, or someone that is worried about a friend, relative or colleague, it’s to speak up about suicide. Talk about it! Ask for help if you need it, or ask someone about suicide.

During a Q&A after the training, GPs asked: “What should I say?”, “What if the answer is yes?”, “What am I looking for?”, “There are no services available to signpost young people to – CAMHS is so stretched”, “How do I cope with losing a patient to suicide?”. They didn’t know about ‘Help Is At Hand’ or organisations that can offer help after a suicide. This is scandalous.

One of the young people I supported gave me feedback, in the hope it would help other young people in a similar situation: I'd try to learn how to cope by myself.

I was too afraid to ask for help and I'd stick to the idea that I will go through it and I will be just fine. But sometimes I was in so much pain I wanted to end my life... I gained the courage to ask for help.

Instead of telling me that I will be just fine and everything will be okay, you showed me I could do something to make it okay myself. You've listened to me carefully and offered me good advice. You didn't make me do anything, but helped me take small steps towards getting better. You cared.

Sometimes it's all a person needs, to see that there is someone who cares, someone who is willing to listen to you and help you no matter what. That's what I would advise to other teenage people going through a really hard time in their lives - to not be scared and speak out, ask for help.

It might save your life.

GPs need training and support. They need to feel ready, willing and able to help people at risk of suicide. They need the knowledge and confidence to do a suicide crisis intervention. They need to know about how to effectively explore invitations, and to confidently ask about suicide. They need to know how to look after themselves. They need to know about prevention, intervention and postvention services to better serve young people at risk of suicide, their communities, and their own mental wellbeing. They are the front line, and the community’s first port of call for help.

Plans are afoot to raise awareness, promote HOPELineUK and train GPs in ASIST through Clinical Commissioning Groups in the region.

Interested in training?

PAPYRUS provides an array of suicide prevention awareness raising sessions and training courses across the UK. We believe we all have a responsibility to gain some level of awareness and understanding if we are to create suicide-safe communities. Awareness sessions or training can begin in the community, in the workplace or within schools, colleges and universities. PAPYRUS courses are well structured, evidence-based and are delivered by our suicide prevention advisors and trainers.

If you’d like further information visit our website or email: training@papyrus-uk.org 21

Supporter news and activities Thank you to everyone who has taken part in or supported an event, donated, or helped to raise awareness – helping us to extend and maintain our life-saving services and save young lives across the UK. GET INVOLVED We're heading into another busy year of fundraising here at PAPYRUS – here's how you can get involved in 2017!

Are you a keen cyclist? Nightrider is a 100km night-time cycle around Liverpool, London and Bristol… and we have places available in all three! Take a solo trip to soak in the sights, or challenge your family, friends and colleagues to cycle with you!

Fancy a run? PAPYRUS has spots up for grabs on the British 10k and the Vitality London 10,000 – places are limited so get in touch today!

Sandra held a fantastic fundraiser in December with a Gospel Choir raising the roof with their voices, while Sandra raised a fantastic £740.

Diana added a creative edge to fundraising, holding a knitting stall at a local fair and raising over £700, including a kind donation from the organisers.

Jack held his annual ball in November 2016, this time with a Casino Royale theme, raising over £3,000!

London Marathon We’d like to give a big shout out to our London Marathon runners, Trevor and Lauren, who managed to bag a place through the runners’ ballot. We’re thrilled to have them on board!

Fundraisers

Amanda’s Body Combat event raised over £3,000 while getting everyone fighting fit!

A special thank you to Marj, who has supported PAPYRUS for a number of years, and most recently held a bike ride and charity night in memory of her son, Martin.

A huge thank you to all the schools and colleges across the UK who have fundraised for us – you have organised mufti days, non-uniform days, bake sales and even abseiled down the O2 Arena! Here’s PAPYRUS Trustee Nancy collecting a cheque from Bromley College who have raised over £2,000 for PAPYRUS. If you know anyone who might like to fundraise at their school or college, just email fundraising@papyrus-uk.org for more information, or check out our website: papyrus-uk.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-papyrus

Ducking Punches have been selling

t-shirts and merchandise while they tour around the country, raising awareness and £1,122 for PAPYRUS!

If you'd like to fundraise, we are here to help you plan your events and challenges. Visit our website or email fundraising@papyrus-uk.org for more information. You’ll fi nd more fundraising news and updates on: @papyrus_tweets

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@papyrus_uk

@PAPYRUSUK

we’re also on Linkedin!

David and three of his friends walked a fantastic 97 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, battling all sorts of weather, and managing to raise a whopping £3,710!

The Gin O’clock Team, made up of friends Will, Ed, Lloyd and Tom, is aiming to raise £2,000 in memory of their friend Mike Davies. On the 15th April the Gin O’clock Team will take part in the National Three Peaks challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours!

Donate to PAPYRUS via text – it’s a quick and easy way for people to contribute and super easy to share! Just text PAPY17 with the amount you’d like to donate to 70070. For example text ‘PAPY17 £10’ to 70070.

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Suicide is the biggest killer of young people – male and female – aged under 35 in the UK. Young suicide is everyone's business and we all have a role to play in preventing it.

There is help and hope. HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41