STOP Suicide is now focussing on encouraging men to open up about their mental health experiences, and encourage others to ask openly and directly if they are worried that someone may be at risk.
The STOP Suicide 2020 campaign aims to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented and is led by Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind (CPSL Mind) in partnership with local authorities and the local NHS and they have shared an array of infortmation, facts and advice to encourage more people to address the issue and reduce the number of suicides in the area.
STOP Suicide is a charity-led campaign that aims to build awareness of how everyone can play their part in preventing suicide in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Its award-winning approach empowers communities and individuals to help stop suicide by being alert to the warning signs, asking directly about suicide, helping those who are feeling suicidal to stay safe.
In May 2018, their campaign across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire reached out to the public. Market research told them that after the campaign almost three quarters understood the key messages, nine in ten people believed that when someone is feeling suicidal, it is always worth trying to intervene, and almost two thirds felt suicide was everybody’s business and helping people who are suicidal should not just be left to the professionals.
STOP Suicide started as a pilot in 2014 funded by NHS England and continues today using other funding streams. It plays a role as the public voice for an ambition to prevent all suicides.
CPSL Mind recognise that men particularly may be more open to supportive conversations as part of a communal activity or peer interest. Men’s Shed projects are just one such environment - sports, gyms, drop-ins and barbers, for example, are also potential places for men to build connections.
A new Youtube podcast video featuring Stu and Rishal highlights their experiences with mental ill health.
Organisations can also sign up to the new STOP Suicide Pledge.
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 49 and three-quarters of completed suicides are men.
Longer term, middle-aged men particularly have consistently faced higher suicide rates than other sex and age groups. It could also be that this group is less inclined to seek help.
It is also known that there is an association between suicide and loneliness. In general, men tend to have fewer meaningful connections than women and their social networks can be less supportive.
A CPSL Mind spokesman said: “It is important to break the stigma in environments men can connect, and encourage conversations through all age groups.
“It’s important for others to reach out to men if they are worried about them. One death by suicide is one too many.”
She said: “Our message is simple: talking openly about suicide saves lives.
“Central to the campaign is the Stop Suicide Pledge, which invites people to talk more openly about suicide and to seek help if they are struggling.
“You don’t have to be a professional to help someone. You just need to be able to recognise the warning signs and talk openly and honestly with someone you are worried about.”
FACTFILE:
○ An estimated one in five of us has had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives.
○ Three-quarters of suicides in the UK are by men.
○ Seventy per cent of people who die by suicide have not been in contact with mental health services in the year before their death.
○ The single biggest group remains middle aged men.
○ Suicide rates in younger men have been incrementally increasing in recent years.
CPSL Mind says: “Uncertainty, economic and employment issues are all recognised heightened risks for men in relation to mental health and suicide. Covid has rightly put mental health back in the spotlight as it is creating unprecedented situations for all, it is more important now than ever to get conversations into the open.
“The national focus on talking more openly about mental health, which has been led, in part, by celebrities, sportsmen and women, members of the Royal Family, has built real momentum and created a platform for positive conversations and action at a local level. We also know that by raising awareness and encouraging people to talk openly about suicide we can actively engage individuals and communities who then help to prevent it.”
Cambridgeshire has been just below or in line with national suicide figures while Peterborough has been slightly higher across the previous three-year time period 2016-18. Along with the national increasing trend both have increased across 2017-19 to slightly above the England rate of 10.1 per 100,000 population.
During 2019 the number of suicides in the county were recorded as: Peterborough 26, Cambridge 19, East Cambridgeshire 11, Fenland 10, Huntingdonshire 12, South Cambridgeshire 21.
The STOP Suicide Pledge differs between individuals and organisations.
Organisations pledge to:
○ Promote the STOP Suicide message throughout their organisations
○ Encourage staff to sign up to the personal STOP Suicide Pledge
○ Encourage staff to be open and honest when life gets difficult
○ Encourage staff to reach out to others if they are worried about them
Individuals pledge to:
○ Tell someone if they need help
○ Be aware of the suicide warning signs in others
○ Ask directly about suicide if worried about someone
○ Listen without judgement and do what you can to keep them safe
Nearly 3,000 individuals and over 100 organisations have signed up to the pledge, including Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Jagex, University of Cambridge – School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge University Press and Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.
To sign up visit: http://www.stopsuicidepledge.org/pledge/
Aly Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at CPSL Mind added: “We’d obviously like to see the total number of pledges increase significantly over the course of our planned activity. However, every pledge the campaign receives indicates that there is one more person out in our community who is prepared to ask directly about suicide if they are worried about someone – and seek help for themselves should they ever need it.”
Campaign Makers help to spread the STOP Suicide message. Individuals can invest as much or as little time as they want sharing social media, distributing leaflets or helping out at events.
They can also help to raise awareness by writing about or creating a film to share their own story. In return, CPSL Mind will support campaign makers by helping them to find the tools, skills, confidence and resources to make their chosen level of impact. To read more about Campaign Makers visit: http://www.stopsuicidepledge.org/get-involved/
There is a range of help available from local services and the community.
The NHS First Response Service, operated across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, is one of less than a handful in the country to offer a 24-7 response service to people in mental health crisis, offering care, advice, support and treatment.
By calling 111, and selecting option 2, you will be put through to a member of the FRS who will speak to you and discuss your current mental health needs.
Papyrus Advice is also available for young people at risk of suicide on 0800 068 4141 (helpline 10am – 10pm, Monday – Friday and 2pm – 5pm, weekends and bank holidays) 07786 209697 (SMS). Or visit: www.papyrus-uk.org [email protected]
You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (Freephone, 24-hour helpline) www.samaritans.org or email [email protected]
Lifeline’s Cambridgeshire helpline is on 0808 808 2121 (Freephone) 9am – 11pm Mon-Fri and 2pm-11pm weekends and Bank Holidays.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is a charity dedicated to preventing male suicides on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm – midnight every day) and 07537 404717 (SMS) or visit www.thecalmzone.net
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, for those personally affected by suicide. Call 0300 111 5065 (9am to 9pm) or go to www.uk-sobs.org.uk or visit [email protected]
CPSL Mind runs a range of suicide prevention training across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. Between April 2017 and March 2020, more than 140 local people completed the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). More than 400 people have completed the half-day STOP Suicide training workshop.
CPSL Mind has delivered Suicide Awareness and Response training to GP’s under the STOP Suicide programme. Currently more than a third of GP’s in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have completed the peer-led training to equip them with skills and confidence to assess people in crisis and ensure a safety plan for them. The training has also been extended to over 250 Primary Care staff so far.
‘Suicide Plus’ workshops are now available as online instructor led sessions. With these you can learn how to be alert to warning signs of others having suicidal thoughts or behaviours, gain confidence to speak directly about suicide and understand how to help someone stay safe for now.
There may be free sessions to community groups and to charities providing local services. Visit https://www.stopsuicidepledge.org/training-and-community-talks/
The STOP Suicide campaign also actively promotes short online training offered by the Zero Suicide Alliance. It will teach you how to recognise the warning signs and safeguard someone that could be contemplating suicide.
You can access the free bitesize course here: https://www.relias.co.uk/zero-suicide-alliance/form