December 2022

Welcome to the December 2022 Suicide Prevention Newsletter for Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES).

This newsletter has been created to keep you informed of suicide prevention work that is happening in B&NES and update you on forthcoming events and training opportunities. A theme will be introduced for each newsletter and the focus of this edition is 'Money and Mental Health'.

Please share within your network and wider for shared awareness. To subscribe for future newsletters or access archived newsletters press the 'subscribe' button above.

If you would like more information about the content of this newsletter or if you would like to contribute to future editions, please get in touch by emailing suicide_prevention@bathnes.gov.uk

Disclaimer: If you find any of this content upsetting or distressing please call Samaritans 116 123 for free or talk to a professional or a person you trust.

In This Newsletter:

1. Latest news
2. B&NES Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Workshop
3. Money and Mental Health

4. Training

5. Tools

Latest News

Bath Mind Services Brochure - Take a look at Bath Mind's guide of Mental Health and Wellbeing Services in Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath Mind Wellbeing Magazine: Winter Pressures - Bath Mind have published their Winter Pressures Wellbeing Magazine. The magazine includes tips on how to:

Eat well on a budget

Stay well during winter

Support your immune system

Spend time in nature

Reduce anxiety

Manage your money and mental health

The magazine also includes information on where you can go to get Mental Health and Wellbeing Support. Take a further look here.

November Spotlight: Emergency Department Adult Intervention Service - Based at the RUH in Bath's Emergency Department, Bath Mind's Emergency Department Adult Intervention Service offers one-to-one support to anyone presenting to the Emergency Department with mental health crisis behaviours. Take a further look to see who the service supports and how it is going.

NSPA News: The National Suicide Prevention Alliance is hosting their next Suicide Prevention conference on Tuesday 24th January 2023. Every year, the NSPA brings together professionals with an interest in suicide prevention across the private, public and voluntary sector to network, learn and share. For more information and to book tickets, click here.

PAPYRUS - Papyrus have recently created a short video featuring CoCo who talks about neurodivergence and their own experiences around suicide as a young person, as well as sharing messages of hope for others. You can view the video here.

FREE Mental Health Training for Non-Paid Carers - Developing knowledge, understanding and approaches, to create the best environment that supports everyone's emotional and mental wellbeing. Being a non-paid carer can take many forms, you might be a friend, family member, neighbour, partner, peer or colleague. For more information and to book onto the training via Eventbrite click here

Research News:

Alcohol use and its association with suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and non-suicidal self-harm in two successive, nationally representative English household samples. Read the study here.
College students in Scotland report significant symptoms of depression with more than one-third experiencing food insecurity. Read the study here.
Stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances widespread across UK - new mental health survey. Read the survey here.

Bath Mind's Christmas opening hours - for those who may need support during the holiday season.

B&NES Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Workshop

On the 12th October 2022, several organisations across B&NES gathered together to discuss local developments around Suicide Prevention. The event was an opportunity to hear from individuals with lived experience and discuss everyone's (individuals and organisations) contribution to the suicide prevention agenda. Identifying how we can work collaboratively to promote suicide prevention and make it everyone's business. The event was a great success and organisations were able to feedback on the priorities of the B&NES Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Breathing space, a service who offer face-to-face and helpline services to support individuals experiencing or at risk of a mental health crisis came along and displayed the 'blanket of compassion' (see below). The blanket was created by service users. It is a sign of strength, creativity and hope.

If you would like to hear more, and get involved in having your say in the development of the next B&NES Suicide Prevention Strategy please email: suicide_prevention@bathnes.gov.uk

The current action plan/strategy can be accessed via the B&NES website: click here .

Money and mental health

In the UK, we’re experiencing a cost of living crisis. This happens when costs rise faster than our wages, so things like your weekly shops or energy bills take up a larger proportion of your household budget. This means more people might be experiencing financial difficulties, and we know that money worries can have a big impact on your mental health. If you're having to make hard decisions about what you can afford, it's normal to feel stressed or down. However, this can feel exhausting and can create the feeling of being stuck in a 'vicious cycle' - money worries lead to difficulty managing money and vice versa.

Below you’ll find further information to help you understand the link between money and mental health, plus tips on how to organise your finances, speak to services and where to go for support with your mental health:

Bath Mind are part of a joint partnership with Citizens Advice B&NES which can advise you on welfare benefits, support you in maximising your income, and appeal decisions. To access this service, contact Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7897 and ask for the Welfare Benefit Service.
Use Clean Slate’s Money Health Check. to capture an overview of your lifestyle and finances, to help spot savings and find opportunities to boost your finances.
Create a budget - The Money Helper website has budgeting advice for people who are self-employed, on a zero hour contract, or claiming Universal Credit.
Use a free toolkit such as Mental Health and Money Advice’s money and mental health toolkit. to help guide conversations to the relevant person about your money and mental health.
If you’re struggling to pay off your debts, get debt advice. You might find it helpful to contact a debt organisation such as, National Debtline, or StepChange Debt Charity.
Money Helper has lots of information on managing your money if you’re in hospital, unable to work due to mental ill health or helping someone else manage their money.
If you are feeling stressed or worried, its good to talk to someone - 'a problem shared is a problem halved'. Speak to a support worker or health professional, like your GP or talk to a friend, family member or colleague.

You are not alone! If you need support or help coping, contact a helpline such as:

Samaritans for confidential, non-judgemental emotional support call 116 123, lines are open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Text SHOUT to 85258
Bath Mind’s Breathing Space service call 0808 175 1369, lines are open from 5:30PM - 11:00PM, seven days a week.
For more information on how you can access mental health support, click here.

Training

Zero Suicide Alliance – Suicide Awareness Training Join ZSA’s 20-minute suicide awareness training where you will gain the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide (free).

We need to talk about suicide - Health Education England The learning is specifically aimed at making sure that everyone in contact with the public, in whatever role, knows how to spot any signs of mental distress and feel comfortable in talking about suicide.

Bath Mind - Mental Health First Aid Become a Mental Health First Aider and attend Bath minds online course. The online MHFA is broken down into 4 live sessions with independent learning (£304 per person).

Bath Mind - Suicide First Aid training The course focuses on teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting (£163 per person).

Child Bereavement UK Bereavement by suicide - Supporting children, young people and families. A 3-hour interactive online workshop will consider the challenges associated with supporting children and young people bereaved by suicide- multiple dates (£45 per person).

Suicide Awareness for Everyone - SAFETalk: Suicide Awareness For Everyone, is an introductory talk about suicide, to raise awareness, explore the prevalence and spots signs of risks - Multiple dates (free).

Talking About suicide: Ten tools - online training - In just 90 minutes, learn ten tools and develop confidence to start a conversation with someone you're worried about. You could save their life (donations).

Charlie Waller Trust, Free webinars for parents, cares and educators, exploring strategies for maintaining positive mental health, paying attention to our own wellbeing and supporting those around them. Topics include: managing the highs and lows, the teen brain matters and loneliness.

FREE Mental Health Training for Non-Paid Carers - Developing knowledge, understanding and approaches, to create the best environment that supports everyone's emotional and mental wellbeing. Being a non-paid carer can take many forms, you might be a friend, family member, neighbour, partner, peer or colleague. For more information and to book onto the training via Eventbrite click here

Tools

Cool2talk NHS website for young people aged between 12 and 25 years old. a safe, confidential space for young people to ask about anything that might be worrying them.
Switchboard LGBTQ+ helpline A one-stop listening service for LGBTIQ+ people.
R;pple Effect Newsletter. R;pple is an interceptive tool designed to present a visual prompt when a person searches for harmful keywords or phrases relating to the topic of self-harm or suicide. The online tool aims to reduce exposure to potentially harmful online content. Get updates all things R;pple by signing up to the monthly newsletter.
Zero Suicide Alliance. The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) Resources website supports individuals, communities and organisations to meet people’s mental health needs before, during and after experiencing crisis – to ultimately prevent suicide in UK and beyond. Sign up to receive ZSA resources here.
Boys in Mind (Girls Mind Too) is a B&NES based movement, set up as an outcome from the previous B&NES Suicide Prevention Strategy. Now run by young people themselves, Boys in Mind work hard to support the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men including through the development of films, work in schools, blogs and podcasts.
The Stay Alive app is a pocket suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
Making suicide part of the everyday conversation, HOPECAST is a podcast from UK charity, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. By talking openly and honestly with a range of guests about suicide, mental health and emotional wellbeing, HOPECAST is smashing the stigma around suicide one conversation at a time.
Bath Mind Breathing Space offers a calm, non-clinical service, supporting individuals experiencing or at risk of a mental health crisis. Email: breathingspace@bathmind.org.uk or call: 0808 175 1369. Lines are open 365 days a year between 5:30pm – 11:00pm.
The Beside Project provides emotional and practical support to any individual living in B&NES who has recently may have a lost a family member or next of kin to suicide. Email beside.project@nhs.net or call 0117 909 6630
Survivors Of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) have self-help support groups across the UK, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to ask questions and to connect with others. To join the Bath SOBS group email: bath@uksobs.org Website: www.uksobs.org/groups/bath-group

If you have anything you would like to share in the quarterly suicide prevention newsletter, or would like to contribute to future newsletters, please get in touch using our email address below.

Our mailing address is:
suicide_prevention@bathnes.gov.uk

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Find out more about the B&NES action plan and where you can access suicide prevention and bereavement resources, support, and training (including free online training by visiting:
https://livewell.bathnes.gov.uk/supporting-adults-live-independent-lives/health-and-wellbeing/bnes-suicide-prevention

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B&NES Suicide Prevention Partnership · Keynsham Civic Centre · Market Walk, Keynsham · Bristol, Avon BS31 1FS · United Kingdom