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CW for suicide
A poem from a member of our team for #wspd
It’s a poem about their experience of feeling suicidal and asking for help from services supposed to help.
“If we really want to prevent suicide the system needs to change - compassion and connection at the core”
A poem from a member of our team for #wspd
It’s a poem about their experience of feeling suicidal and asking for help from services supposed to help.
“If we really want to prevent suicide the system needs to change - compassion and connection at the core”
When seeking help and asking for support they received appalling treatment from mental health and crisis teams. Nobody listened to them or anyone that knew them well about how at risk they were and instead of being offered support..
They were told that they’d “be eaten alive” if they were admitted and instead were sent home with no support and told that they couldn’t access the therapy they knew would help. Repeatedly they were told to take responsibility for themselves and that they weren’t trying.
Nobody in those services truly listened to their story or offered the one thing they were asking for.
Unfortunately this isn’t a rare story and is far too common. It’s not okay that it happens. We really need things to change if we want to prevent suicides.
Unfortunately this isn’t a rare story and is far too common. It’s not okay that it happens. We really need things to change if we want to prevent suicides.
There’s so much to say on this topic and all of our team feel incredibly passionate about making sure everyone gets the support they deserve. Here’s some thoughts from the team on what needs to change to prevent suicide:
“I just wanted someone to listen and meet me where I was at because it’s such a dark lonely place and people get scared to meet you in that place”
“Knowing that you don’t have to have all the answers to be there for somebody”
“Less taboo, less judgement. Sharing stories”
“Knowing that you don’t have to have all the answers to be there for somebody”
“Less taboo, less judgement. Sharing stories”
“We need a mental health system that is equipped to intervene early, and that unlocks the kindness of the people working within it”
“We need a system that allows professionals to care about each individual and their needs, rather than having to worry about the length of the waiting list. (I'm not suggesting people working in MH don't care, but the system prevents them from acting in ways that they'd want to)”
“Ask the difficult questions. If you’re worried about someone ask them directly if they’re thinking about suicide”
“In order to truly prevent suicide we need to do a lot more than just improve mental health support. We need to tackle inequalities like poverty and racism”
“In order to truly prevent suicide we need to do a lot more than just improve mental health support. We need to tackle inequalities like poverty and racism”
“Professionals need to stop saying things like ‘if you really wanted to you’d have done it’ and ‘you’ve got to take responsibility for yourself’
Here are a few useful resources we have found too:
Here’s some tips for supporting someone online (source unknown)
Here’s some tips for supporting someone online (source unknown)
Some more useful graphics about spotting the signs and some other information!
(Sources unknown)
(Sources unknown)
These graphics by Alyssa Ruriani https://alyseruriani.com/pages/links
Helplines/listening lines:
Papyrus Hopeline UK 08000684141 07860039967 [email protected]
Samaritans 116123 [email protected]
Childline 0800 1111 http://Childline.org.uk
Shout text Shout to 85258
The Mix 0808 808 4994 http://TheMix.org.uk
Papyrus Hopeline UK 08000684141 07860039967 [email protected]
Samaritans 116123 [email protected]
Childline 0800 1111 http://Childline.org.uk
Shout text Shout to 85258
The Mix 0808 808 4994 http://TheMix.org.uk
Safety plans:
Papyrus https://www.papyrus-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Suicide-Safety-Plan-Leaflet.pdf
http://Stayingsafe.net
Papyrus https://www.papyrus-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Suicide-Safety-Plan-Leaflet.pdf
http://Stayingsafe.net
This #wspd we need to really think about how we make these changes because suicide is preventable!
we need to really think about how we make these changes because suicide is preventable!
