The Baton of Hope aims to be the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative
The Baton of Hope, the symbol of the UK’s biggest suicide awareness campaign, reached Edinburgh Castle on Monday as it continues its tour across the UK’s major cities,
The Baton of Hope, the biggest suicide prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, will visited Edinburgh on the first ever tour of its kind.
Highlighting the suicide crisis that sees 17 people take their own lives every day, the charity’s Baton, its iconic physical symbol, will embark on a tour of 12 cities across the UK, starting in Glasgow on Sunday 25th June and culminating in a trip to Downing Street on Thursday 6th July.
The Baton will bring a unifying message of hope to the thousands of people across the country that are suffering as a result of suicide bereavement or personal mental ill health.
PICTURED: Louise Marshall, the Lord Provost’s Piper, Christo, the Baton of Hope Tour’s first Baton bearer, Tanya Marwaha and Jenny Raynor, members of the Baton of Hope organising committee, and Paul Marshall, brother of the Lord Provost’s Piper.
From April 2021 to March 2022, Childline counsellors delivered 1,345 counselling sessions with children in Scotland who were experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings
NSPCC Scotland has released new data from its Childline service to mark Children’s Mental Health Week and raise awareness of how we can help and support children when they are experiencing poor mental health and suicidal thoughts.
Children’s Mental Health Week (6-12 February) is an annual event in the UK that aims to raise awareness of children’s mental health. It is co-ordinated by the children’s charity Place2Be, and this year’s theme is Let’s Connect, encouraging children and young people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding, and meaningful ways.
This new data from the NSPCC reveals that Childline counsellors delivered 1,345 counselling sessions with children in Scotland who were experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings last year from April 2021 to March 2022.
Adeniyi Alade, service head of Childline in Scotland, said: “At Childline, we know that hundreds of children across Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and it remains the number one concern that our counsellors speak to children about every day.
“Whilst some are grappling with anxiety, others are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings. Many of these children tell our counsellors they are the first person they have spoken to and that they’ve not known who else to turn to.
“No matter what a child’s experience is, if they are struggling with their mental health, we believe it is essential they get the support they need to help them cope quickly. That’s why this children’s mental health awareness week we want to remind all young people that Childline is here for them 24/7, whether that be on the phone or via an email or 121 chat.
“As well as speaking with one of our counsellors, we also have lots of resources and advice available online like our monitored message boards which allow young people to speak with their peers and connect and share their experiences.”
Sandra Gordon, a Childline counsellor at NSPCC’s Glasgow call centre, said: “Over the last few years mental health has been a huge issue.For some young people things can be so tough at home and sometimes they think about taking their own life.
“They may feel anxious and be struggling on a lot of levels. Young people feel isolated when they have fallen out with friends, they are arguing with parents and finding their schoolwork difficult.
“We are there to listen, we’d never judge any young person, and we try to build their confidence and self-esteem. We allow them to explore other options and try to make them feel valued. For many young people it can be easier to talk to someone you don’t know and it helps to know they can remain anonymous.”
A boy aged 15 from Scotland who called Childline said: “I’m going to kill myself tonight. Every day is so hard; everyone is upsetting me all the time.
“I’m just so stressed. I’ve been feeling like this all week but today things happened which are the last straw for me.”
Another 15-year-old boy who called Childline said:“For the past few months, I’ve been feeling lonely and like I’m nothing. Most recently I’ve had really dark thoughts about suicide.
“I’ve been self-harming as a distraction as wherever I go it’s always on mind – it seems to just follow me and it’s really overwhelming. I act as happy when I’m around my mum – she seems to think I’m fine but I’m really dying inside.
“I feel like nobody understands and I don’t know who to tell. I’m worried they’ll laugh and won’t believe me or say, ‘you out of all people can’t be feeling that!’.”
A boy aged 17 who called Childline said: “I keep getting these suicidal thoughts and I don’t know what to do about them. I try to distract myself or I ride them out, but the thoughts always end up coming back.
“You’re the first person I’ve told this to. I don’t really want my mam to know cos it will only worry her and probably make me feel even worse.”
Advice for children:
Talk to a trusted adult about how you are feeling and what is worrying you. This could be a parent, guardian, sibling over the age of 18, grandparent, teacher or a Childline counsellor. Sharing how you feel with someone you trust means that they can support you and give you ideas on how to cope. It will also help you feel less alone with your worries, and they can let you know that they will be here for you.
Be kind to yourself. Speak to yourself like you would a friend and take the time to check in on your basic needs such as eating, drinking and resting.
Take a break if you feel overwhelmed or are struggling to cope you could go for a walk or listen to some music to give yourself some headspace. Taking some deep breaths will also help you feel calmer and less panicked and you can visit Childline ‘s Calm Zone to find some activities that can help relax you.
Try and build a healthy routine to give yourself some structure to your day. For example, you could set reminders on your phone to take regular breaks where you may read a book, go for a walk or ring a friend. Or you could get up earlier than normal and start your day with some deep breaths, some gentle exercise and have a healthy breakfast.
Helping others or doing a random act of kindness can help you feel good about yourself and can distract you from your worries. This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; it could be as simple as offering to do a house chore like the washing up or making someone a cup of tea.
Contact Childline if you feel you have no-where else to turn or would like some extra support.
Our counsellors are available 24/7 and you can get in touch online at childline.org.uk by email or 1-2-1 chat or on the phone on 0800 111 or. Our trained counsellors are here for you and no worry is ever too small.
For Adults:
Let them know you’re there for them, this will reassure them that you are on their side and it will remind them that they can come to you about anything.
Try talking to them over text or on the phone, if they don’t feel able to talk in person.
Be patient and staying calm and approachable, even if their behaviour upsets you recognising that their feelings are valid and letting them know it’s okay for them to be honest about what it’s like for them to feel this way.
Think of things you could do together to help them cope, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness.
Encourage them to talk to adult they trust like their GP, someone at their school or Childline. Especially if they’re finding it hard to talk at home.
Take care of yourself and get support if you need to. Try not to blame yourself for what’s happening and stay hopeful.
Samaritans Scotland will host an event at Glasgow Central Station today (Monday 16 January) in a bid to dispel the myth of ‘Blue Monday’.
The third Monday of each year is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year and falls on January 16 in 2023.
To debunk the idea of ‘Blue Monday’, Samaritans runs an annual Brew Monday campaign throughout the UK which emphasises the importance of talking and encourages people to reach out to family and friends and have chat over a cuppa.
This Brew Monday, Samaritans Scotland has teamed up with Scotland’s Railway to hold an event at Glasgow Central Station. Volunteers and staff will be on hand from 8am to 2pm offering tea, coffee and biscuits to commuters and passers-by.
AG Barr has kindly donated cans of Irn Bru for the event, meaning visitors can cheers to ‘Bru Monday’ too! There will also be a selection of sweet treats thanks to Lees of Scotland.
Danielle Rowley, Influencing Manager at Samaritans Scotland, said: “At Samaritans, we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’. We all have our good days and our bad days, these aren’t for the calendar to decide.
“Our dedicated listening volunteers all over Scotland are consistently busy 24/7, 365 days a year, picking up a call for help every 10 seconds.
“The simple act of having a chat with someone over a coffee can have a huge impact – it could even save a life.
“It’s time to stop the myth about this Monday being ‘blue’ and instead start a conversation over a brew – or Bru!”
Anyone can contact Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123, even on a mobile without credit. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org.
*Ahead of World Mental Health Day, new data from a leading UK charity reveals a worrying mental health surge.
**New video – called “The Feelings” – helps raise awareness of the suffering many frontline staff are experiencing
THE number of frontline workers seeking help with potentially suicidal thoughts has increased by over 70 per cent in the last year, the Laura Hyde Foundation has announced.
Disturbing new statistics compiled by the UK’s leading mental health charity for emergency service workers shows rising numbers of nurses, doctors, paramedics, midwives, police officers and firefighters are now seeking help.
In the first half of 2022, 946 contacted the Laura Hyde Foundation for support linked to suicidal thoughts. That’s compared to 556 people in the first half of 2021 – a leap of 70%.
The charity, set up in memory of Navy nurse Laura Hyde, says more than 220 nurses attempted to end their lives during the first year of Covid in 2020.
In a bid to raise awareness, the charity has collaborated on a new video which shines a light on the issue.
“The Feelings” aims to raise awareness of the serious difficulties that medical and emergency workers face, and how this can affect them day-to-day if they don’t seek support.
Each of the characters represents some of the actual feelings that workers from the healthcare frontline have been experiencing, including ‘rising dread’, ‘red rage’, and ‘powerless’.
The LHF says it is particularly concerned these issues could become even more pressing due to the impact the cost of living crisis could have on many in the sector, who are already struggling to cope in the aftermath of the pandemic.
They’ve been heightened further by the fact many services are currently overstretched and will face fresh difficulties in the looming Winter period.
Now, ahead of World Mental Health Day on Monday October 10, the charity is issuing an appeal to the Prime Minister, Liz Truss and Health Secretary Therese Coffey to act in this area.
Liam Barnes, the chairman of the Laura Hyde Foundation, said: “These deeply alarming figures expose what we have been growing increasingly concerned about at the Laura Hyde Foundation over recent months.
“And that’s the fact that our healthcare and emergency services are still facing a pandemic. This time however it isn’t Covid-19, it is the state of mental health and wellbeing of the workforce.
“We are yet to see the true effects of burnout, PTSD and many more conditions as a result of this testing time. Plus we now have a cost of living crisis which will only add to the burden many of our frontline workers will face.
“That’s why it is critically important that the new Prime Minister and her new Health Secretary put providing mental health support to emergency workers at the very top of their agenda.
“Sadly, the topic of mental health specifically for healthcare workers remains riddled with stigma. This simply has to end.”
Mr Barnes said there has been a sharp rise in the number of people contacting the LHF seeking support this year. The charity says the number of people contacting them in the first half of 2022 was up 39 per cent on the level seen in the first half of 2021.
Nurses, midwives, medical students and hospital doctors contacted the charities in the greatest numbers.
Of those who reached out more 54% said they needed support for suicidal thinking or activity.
Seventy-seven per cent of the contacts the Laura Hyde Foundation received were from frontline staff aged 40 or under.
The LHF collaborated with the creative agency McCann Health and production company Jelly to make its new animated film, The Feelings.
By anonymously characterising these feelings, LHF hopes it will help frontline workers – and beyond – recognise the warning signs of mental health issues and seek support.
The animation, which focuses on supporting emergency workers, has already won industry praise for its impact. The LHF is sharing and promoting “The Feelings” to help support those in need around Suicide Prevention Day.
Guy Swimer, Executive Creative Director of McCann Health, says, “We were looking for a new way to support frontline workers who’ve experienced unprecedented pressure in the last couple of years.
“Hopefully people will continue sharing “The Feelings” with those who might need to see it, so we can try to help the people who’ve been helping all of us.”
Charlie Sells, Founder and Creative Director of Jelly, added, “While the issues raised will be familiar to many of us, emergency workers in particular have been profoundly impacted in recent years.
“We are hugely proud of this campaign, which encourages our care givers to articulate and speak about their feelings in the hope that precious lives are not lost.”
CASE STUDY:
“Please seek help and do not go through this alone.”
Gemma Clay, 38, is a nurse and clinical doctorate fellow at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Gemma was a finalist for Nurse of the Year with Nursing Times in 2020. She will be providing quotes to support the campaign.
She said: “The leap of 70 per cent is a shocking statistic. But I am not totally surprised because as a nurse working on the frontline, I see every day the mental ill health many in the service are suffering.
“These findings underline why all organisations across the emergency services must step up and do more to ensure they are supporting frontline workers.
“When I talk to staff, many of them tell me that the cost of living crisis is having a big impact on their mental health. Large numbers are also suffering from PTSD linked to the pandemic and burnout due to the current pressures that exist within the service.
“Stigma still exists in this issue and we need to break it down as soon as possible.
“People experiencing suicidal thoughts often struggle to be heard. This could be due to myths surrounding suicide, such as the idea that talking to a suicidal person can make them even more suicidal.
“Another myth is that people who talk about suicide are attention seeking and difficult to manage, when in fact even though bringing up suicide can be very difficult, it suggests that the person wants and needs help.
“We need discussions around mental health and suicide to be a part of everyday conversations. When we acknowledge the problem it shows strength instead of weakness and encourages nurses to talk and not wait until they get into a state of crisis to get help.
“In my view, communication is vital when helping colleagues. All health professionals need to provide a culture that helps and encourages people to speak up. Knowing what to say and what to do when someone is having thoughts of suicide can save lives.
“My main advice to anyone feeling suicidal is to talk to someone. Don’t stay silent, as it is hard going through this alone. Talk to a friend, a family member or a colleague. If you do not want to talk to someone you know then contact a helpline so you can remain anonymous. But please seek help and do not go through this alone.
“Being open and honest about suicide and your mental health does not mean the end of your career. I have been promoted several times. Talking to someone and having someone listen can save a life.”
For Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May), the iconic ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ image has been recreated with 11 mannequins to represent the number of tradespeople who die from suicide each week.
The display was organised by IronmongeryDirect as part of its annual campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst the UK trades.
Its 2022 report found that more than four in five (82%) UK tradespeople deal with some form of mental health problem due to work, and sadly, many take their own lives as a result.
Government data shows that there are 589 suicides in the industry each year, which works out at 11 per week, on average.
To visualise this tragic statistic, IronmongeryDirect positioned 11 mannequins on a platform, which was then lifted 30m into the air by a crane that was kindly donated by the excellent team at Bandshire Crane Hire.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the original skyscraper photo being taken, and the number of ironworkers in the scene matches the weekly suicide figure.
The original Lunch atop a Skyscraper photo from 1932
As part of its campaign, the Essex-based ironmongery supplier has partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and is donating over £3,000 to support its crucial services.
Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support.
“This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.
“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “The Lunch atop a Skyscraper image is famous for its message of hope for the industry and camaraderie between workers, so it’s heart-breaking to think that the same number of tradespeople seen in the photo die from suicide every single week.
“Unfortunately, our research found that almost nine in ten individuals don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health, yet this is one of the most positive steps people can take to start addressing any issues.
“We hope that by raising awareness of mental health in the trades, this stigma can be removed and the situation can start to improve.”
The Health and Safety Executive’s Working Minds campaign aims to raise awareness of the legal obligations that employers have to protect employees from work-related stress and its impact on mental health.
Suicidal Crisis Support Action Group will drive implementation of the Time, Space and Compassion approach
A new group will be set up to make sure that everyone at risk of suicide can access the right support when then need it, following recommendations made by the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG).
The Suicidal Crisis Support Action Group will drive implementation of the Time, Space and Compassion approach, a new way to improve help for people who are suicidal.
Nigel Henderson, former Chief Executive of Penumbra and member of the NSPLG, has been appointed as National Lead for Suicidal Crisis Support to lead this work.
Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart (above) said: “I welcome the report from the NSPLG and the recommendations it makes on improving responses to people in suicidal crisis. We will consider the recommendations in full.
“To deliver the scale of change set out in their recommendations, a dedicated Suicidal Crisis Support Action Group will be established to take forward and oversee the implementation of this work.
“The appointment of Nigel recognises his career in developing compassionate support for vulnerable people, including those at risk of suicide. The group will be accountable to ministers and continue to work in close partnership with NSPLG.
“We know there are some excellent examples of suicidal crisis support services across Scotland already, and we have an opportunity to learn from those to make sure this type of support is available right across Scotland.
“Every day, people in our communities, and those working in statutory and third sector services, are responding compassionately to people in crisis. However, there is more we can do. This report offers a real opportunity to transform how we engage and support our most vulnerable people at times of suicidal crisis.”
Nigel Henderson said: “I am very pleased to have been asked to lead on implementing this work.
“Having been a member of the NSPLG and directly involved in this work, I believe that developing the Time, Space, Compassion approach has the potential to make a positive difference to how we respond to people experiencing suicidal crisis.
“There is much to do, and I look forward to working with people, communities and organisations to take forward the recommendations.”
Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) has welcomed the Scottish Government’s acceptance of recommendations for improvements to the response provided to people in suicidal crisis.
Established by the Scottish Government, the NSPLG brings together people with lived experience of suicide alongside academic, third sector, and statutory partners to support the delivery of Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan: Every Life Matters.
These key NSPLG recommendations have been accepted in full by the Scottish Government and will be published on their website today (Wednesday 13 October ).
The NSPLG report uses evidence on the effectiveness of differing models of crisis support to make recommendations to service providers and share best practice.
It deliberately does not recommend a particular model of crisis support. Instead, it sets out an approach which sees suicidal crisis response as a human reaction, not a service model, and sets out the principles of Time, Space and Compassion as the basis of improvement in support for those in crisis.
The recommended approach is at the core of the NSPLG’s vision in supporting delivery of Every Life Matters, ensuring the right support is available for people when they are actively contemplating suicide at a time of crisis.
Time allows a person to discuss their feelings, and Space recognises the need to provide an accessible, quiet, comfortable, pleasant place for a person to talk and/or a virtual space to access support by phone, text or online.
In addition, research shows that Compassion in response to a person in crisis encourages them to disclose details which, in turn, can lead to more effective support being offered and lay the foundations for self-compassion, reducing the need for support from frontline services in the future.
Embedding the principles of Time, Space and Compassion into responses to suicidal crisis in Scotland will require concerted action across national and local government, and services across sectors, communities and citizens.
NSPLG chair Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM, said: “We believe that this approach, rooted in Time, Space and Compassion, can be implemented across all sectors and communities, transforming the experiences of those in crisis and at immediate risk of suicide.
“It is important to highlight that this report is not critical of existing crisis support. Based on the experiences of those who have been in suicidal crisis and those around them, it recommends a radically different cultural landscape, and requires a different sort of resourcing to enable this approach to be implemented consistently.
“People with lived experience of the impacts of suicide and those providing services tell us these recommendations have the potential to improve the experiences of those who seek help at a time of suicidal crisis, and ultimately to save lives.”
Member of NSPLG Lived Experience Panel, Shumela Ahmed (39) from Bridge of Allan near Stirling, is the managing director at Resilience Learning Partnership. She has family and friends who have experienced poor mental health and made suicide attempts.
Shumela has also experienced suicidal thoughts herself.
She said: “I believe Time, Space and Compassion is the right approach because it’s trauma informed and it understands that it takes time to build up trust and connect with a person when they are in a suicidal crisis.
“Every interaction is an opportunity for intervention. When a person is at risk of suicide they need a compassionate response from someone who will spend time with them and offer a safe space for them to talk.
“A really kind, compassionate, empathetic human conversation is often what is actually needed rather than following some big, important framework.
“I look forward to these recommendations being implemented in workforces so that staff have the tools and the resources to take this approach.”
The NSPLG recommendations are intended to be a starting point for work in this area and they focus, in the first instance, on the practical support and evidence required to make this culture shift collaboratively, and on ensuring the availability of existing crisis services as we emerge from the pandemic.
Water Safety Scotland urges people to take precautions as incident data shows an increase in water-related fatalities
Water Safety Scotland (WSS) is urging people across Scotland to ‘Respect the Water’ when visiting and enjoying its waterways and coastlines.
This call comes at a time when the latest figures from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), revealed that there were 99 water-related fatalities in Scotland’s waters, with 39 due to accidental drownings in 2020.*
79% of accidental fatalities happened at inland waters. This is a significant change from previous years, which have seen most accidental fatalities happen at the coast.
With drownings across the world currently in the spotlight after the United Nations (UN) recent General Assembly, there are growing concerns emerging with the announcement of these new figures.
As Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2021 is in full swing, WSS is keen to support people getting out and enjoying Scotland’s waterways with safety at the forefront of any activities.
In line with the NWSF ‘Respect the Water’ campaign, WSS is asking members of the public to follow Scotland’s Water Safety Code wherever they are in Scotland, and have, as a result, created a new webpage to support the ‘Respect The Water’ campaign.
Michael Avril, Chair of Water Safety Scotland said: “Every fatality in Scotland massively impacts the persons friends and family and we at Water Safety Scotland will continue to do everything within our powers to prevent future tragedies.
“2020 was an exceptionally difficult year in so many ways and the increased number of drowning fatalities may have been caused by a number of factors. Water Safety Scotland will continue to work in partnership to carry out prevention activity and to better understand the causes of these tragedies.
“We ask everyone to come together in Scotland to support the #RespectTheWater campaign and follow Scotland’s Water Safety code.”
With Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy in its fourth year, the four-year review of the strategy will be published next spring along with a planned RoSPA Water Safety Conference.
This year’s WAID statistics also includes a fatality figure from suspected suicides. The figure for Scotland in 2020 was 28, with the Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy average being 29.
Rachel Cackett, Executive Director for Samaritans Scotland and chair of the Water Safety Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Subgroup, said: “Suicide accounts for around 1 in 3 water-related fatalities in Scotland every year. Working to understand and reduce the risks of suicidal behaviour around Scotland’s waterways is important both for suicide prevention policy and for realising the overall aims of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy.
“Today’s figures are a reminder that it’s vital we continue to work with partners across national and local government, health, emergency and first response services, and the third and voluntary sector to develop knowledge and insight around suicidal behaviour around water-ways, and that we carry on working together to strengthen prevention and intervention.”
Graphic design student raises funds in memory of Jack
Rachel raises more than £700 for mental health charities
An Edinburgh Napier graphic design student has raised hundreds of pounds for mental health charities after developing a series of prints in honour of a late, close friend.
Student Rachel Cartledge, 19, from Edinburgh, developed a series of four prints in memory of her close friend Jack Dore, who sadly took his own life in December 2020.
Rachel met Jack through working together in Edinburgh. He was also an Edinburgh Napier student, studying International Tourism Management. He was due to graduate this year.
Her prints – which were developed as part of University coursework that aimed to get students to create something they were passionate about – featured a range of her own illustrations alongside uplifting quotes such as “You matter”, and “Everyone grows at different rates”.
The theme of the prints was to advocate good mental health alongside brightening people’s day.
Once the designs were finalised, Rachel sold the prints through her online Etsy shop and Instagram channel. Within the first 30 minutes, she had raised more than £100. Two print runs later, Rachel had raised a total of £704.28.
The funds raised were split between CALM – a charity that campaigns against living miserably – and a JustGiving fund set-up by Jack’s family to help people affected by depression and other mental health issues. As things stand, the fund is nearly at £20,000.
For Rachel, being able to do use her creative skills to help give people something to remember Jack by was a key driver of the entire project.
She said: “Last year, one of my good friends and work colleagues, Jack sadly took his own life. His family had set-up a JustGiving page in honour of him to raise awareness and get more people mental health support. I wanted to create something to help them in their goal.
“Jack’s death made me so upset and it is obviously something very personal to me. My idea was to create a series of mental health prints that I could sell online to raise money for the fund. I also liked the idea because whoever buys a print would get a little piece of Jack with them so his memory never fades.
“When my shop went live, I was so shocked at the response. In less than 30 minutes I had raised more than £100 for Jack and hundreds of people were sharing and commenting on my Instagram post.
“Overall, I sold more than 300 prints. I even had to restock which is something I never thought would happen. I went into this with a passion for making a difference for Jack and designing prints to make people’s day a little brighter.
“It just shows that when you put your mind to something and work really hard, anything is possible.”
Gemma Skelding, Associate Lecturer in Graphic Design at Edinburgh Napier, said: “I set the students the Passion Project to give them the opportunity to explore a brief that is inspired by a deeper meaning, a mission, a desire for a better way and ideally, has a real-world result.
“Rachel’s project delivered this in abundance, and I applaud her strength and drive to create such a wonderful tribute for her friend.”
If you would like to donate to Jack’s fund, you can do so by visiting:
Leading mental health charity, Penumbra, whose team manage the Edinburgh Crisis Centre are continuing to support people experiencing a mental health crisis despite lockdown.
The charity is doubling up on efforts to make sure people across Edinburgh know there is a 24/7 crisis service available to them during the pandemic.
The Edinburgh Crisis Centre is managed by Penumbra on a daily basis and by a representative group involving Centre user representatives (supported by Advocard), NHS Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council, and the Edinburgh Carers’ Council as part of an ongoing Public Social Partnership.
The Penumbra team at the Crisis Centre supports around 2000 people each year.
Penumbra is one of Scotland’s largest mental health charities supporting 1800 adults and young people each week across Scotland. In addition to grassroots support services, the charity also campaigns nationally to promote positive messages around mental health and works with government to improve mental health policies.
Edinburgh Crisis Centre Manager, Barrie Hunter, commented:“Our team here at the Edinburgh Crisis Centre provides short term emotional and mental health support to people in the city who are in distress or who are at risk of suicide and self-harm, and we provide a safe and non-judgemental environment where people can talk in confidence.
“There’s constant demand for support from the Crisis Centre, and it’s not unusual that many of the calls that come in are from people who are extremely distressed and need support immediately.
“The pandemic has been daunting for everyone, but there’s a real risk that people already living with mental ill health could find themselves in real distress. The added pressures of dealing with the isolation, financial worries, and other impacts of lockdown are potentially creating a perfect storm for people reaching crisis.
“At any given time, 1 in 20 of us is experiencing thoughts of suicide. It remains a subject that we find difficult to talk about, but as a leading cause of death among young people and with men in their middle years particularly vulnerable, it’s vital that we open up. The one thing we can all do is talk openly about suicide and encourage conversations around mental wellbeing.
“It’s important for people to know that even during lockdown they can still contact us for support 24/7.”
Data from National Records of Scotland (NRS) released yesterday shows that there were 833 probable suicides registered in Scotland in 2019, an increase from 784 in 2018.
Six hundred and twenty men and 213 women took their own lives in 2019, with people aged 45-54 most at risk. People in our poorest areas were also more likely to take their own lives.
This link between deprivation and suicide is well known. Between 2015 and 2019, people living in the most deprived areas were three times more likely to die by suicide compared to those living in the least deprived areas.
Claire Sweeney, Director of Place and Wellbeing at Public Health Scotland said: “Each of these deaths are a tragedy arising from profound distress, and are all preventable. They will have left immeasurable grief across families and communities.
“The unprecedented challenges we have all faced in 2020 perhaps make it easier to understand that anyone can experience mental illness. That’s one of the reasons why Public Health Scotland is prioritising improving mental wellbeing as part of our strategic plan (A Scotland where everybody thrives).
“We will work with our partners to help grow the understanding of levels of suicide in the communities they work with, and more broadly to support better mental wellbeing across Scotland.”
Following the release of these figures the Scottish Public Health Observatory has published supporting information available.
If you or someone you know are experiencing thoughts of suicide please call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or Samaritans on 116123.
Responding to Public Health Scotland figures revealing that 833 people died by probable suicide in 2019, a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “The statistics highlighting that there were 833 probable suicides registered in Scotland in 2019 is devastating for so many families and only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to highlighting the mental health crisis we are currently in.
“We have for some time called for radical transformation in our mental health services and expressed our concerns over the lack of investment in these for our children and young people. Currently around 50p in every £100 of NHS spending goes to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and yet we know that one in ten children has a diagnosable mental health problem and that figure is increasing. These problems of course if not addressed carry on into adult life.
“With increased numbers of those experiencing mental health problems, as well as those whose existent conditions are being worsened due to the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with further cuts in services, this points to a mental health crisis ‘perfect storm’.
“While referrals have dropped during lockdown and children are not accessing support, we are storing up immense problems for the future as mental health services face being overwhelmed due to greatly increased demand.
“In addition to the NHS, local authorities, the third sector and other independent organisations play a key role in providing mental health support. Yet these services have seen their resources cut over the years, putting an even greater burden on specialist and costly mental health services. It is vital that they receive increased funding or we face witnessing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people
“Mental health services must be given funding and resources equal to that of physical health provision and this pandemic has ushered in an urgency to deliver on this which cannot be ignored.”
