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September 2023 

Welcome to the September 2023 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 Children and young people in a timely manner for the start of term time. 

This also coincides in time with, our very valued colleague, Clare Laker's retirement who had done so much work towards children's mental health and suicide prevention in general. She has been a huge help in contributing to this edition of the newsletter.  We wanted to thank her and wish her the best in her retirement, she will be greatly missed. 

A very warm welcome to Claire Davies who will be picking up the children's mental health and suicide prevention portfolio from Clare Laker. 

Please cascade within your networks 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. B&NES Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Event 
2. Latest News
3. Children and Young People Suicide Prevention 
4. Training 

5. Tools
SAVE THE DATE- 11th October- B&NES Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Event (09:30-13:00)
Join us for our annual suicide prevention stakeholder event. This is for professionals and volunteers working in suicide prevention in B&NES.

This is an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved this last year as well as contributing to influence the local B&NES Suicide prevention strategy and action plan to achieve the overall aim of reducing suicides in our locality.

Read more and register your space
Student Mental Health Forum for B&NES 11th October (14:00-17:00)
Separately, on the same day, in the afternoon, there is a mental health forum workshop taking place for those that work and support students in mental health. This will also be taking place in the Banqueting room at Bath Guildhall from 14:00-17:00pm. 

This multi-organisational event will start a programme of work to develop and strengthen connections between the Universities (Bath, Bath Spa, Norland), and key stakeholders in the NHS and third sectors, to ensure that we are delivering effective and joined-up Mental Health support and services for the students in our city.

*Please note this afternoon event is not specifically and solely related to suicide prevention. Instead, the focus is on students mental health, so please only register if applicable to your line of work

Read more and register your space  

Latest News

Funding Opportunity 
The Department of Health and Social Care has just launched a £10m Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund for 2023/24 – 2024/25, and is now welcoming bids! The purpose of the fund is to support the suicide prevention VCSE in meeting additional demand for services, and for the delivery of new, preventative activity that can help to prevent suicides and save lives.
 
The application period is from 25 August to the 1 October. Applications must be made online via the Find a Grant portal here, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
 
Guidance on the fund for potential applicants can be found here. This guidance provides full details of the objectives of the fund, the eligibility criteria, and what the application process involves. 
 
DHSC will also be holding Meet the Funder webinars to answer the questions of potential applicants. To sign up, please could potential applicants email SuicidePreventionGrant@dhsc.gov.uk to register their interest.
Bath Mind Service Brochure Spring- Summer 23- Take a look at Bath Mind's guide of Mental Health and Wellbeing Services in Bath and North East Somerset.
Harmless' Suicide Bereavement Conference 2023 takes place throughout September this year starting on the 5th September to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. There will be 8 short online webinars spread over every Tuesday and Thursday 10-11am. Tickets are £65.00 and can be purchased through the link.

A reminder that Dorset have produced a  Suicide Prevention Language and Terminology  document to assist with addressing a suicide in a safe sensitive manner. It talks through the Do's and Don'ts's alongside terminology definitions. 

Suicide Bereavement Conference  - Suicide Bereavement UK are hosting a conference. This takes place on the 28th September 2023 with the option of being in person in Manchester (£165.00) or joining virtually from the comforts of your own home (£99.00).  You can register your attendance in the link.

A resource for mental health professionals has been published for health professionals designed as support for staff if a patient dies by suicide. The guide is designed for all mental health professionals, including trainees and unqualified staff. Its purpose is to provide information about a difficult topic that those in mental health often avoid discussing, to reduce a sense of isolation, and to help clinicians cope at what is likely to be a very difficult time.

In July, Proffessor Nav Kapur from NCISH presented the 2022 NICE guidelines for self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence. You can watch the full webinar here.
Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP)- research report on LGBTQ+ experiences of suicide bereavement support - Those that at identify as LGBTQ+ are at an increased risk of suicide. The study highlights experiences of discrimination, exclusion, isolation, guilt, shame and poor responses from primary care services, bereavement services and the coroner's court. 
Bath Mind has opened a new non-medical house for mental health support in Midsomer Norton called Orchard House. They will be providing 7-10 days accommodation and support for adults experiencing a mental health crisis. 
A big warm welcome to the new co-directors of the Samaritans in our district; Imogen and Abby. They can be contacted by email: bath.director@samaritans.org.

They have been working hard already and been in contact with the higher education settings in B&NES and hope to have a presence at the Universities during Mental Health Awareness Week. 
World Suicide Prevention Day 2023
Suicide is everybody’s business. The 10th September 2023, marks World Suicide Prevention Day.

Creating Hope Through Action is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and it aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us including those that are struggling.
  • The Samaritans offer a free landline to discuss your concerns, worries or troubles. The service is round the clock every day of the year. Staffed by trained volunteers, they don’t judge or tell, they just listen and care. Call them on 116 123.
  • Bath Mind offers the Breathing Space service for those at risk of mental health crisis. You can call Monday- Sunday 5:30pm-11:00pm. On 0808 175 1369 or visit their venue for a face to face discussion Monday-Sunday 6:00pm-10:30pm at Oasis Fountain Buildings, BA1 5DU.
  • Papyrus and Boys in Mind also offer support for specific groups such as young people and boys and young men.
Bath Mind's opening hours

Wellbeing College’s wellbeing courses is a one stop shop for FREE community courses. Their website has online and face to face courses for Bath & North East Somerset residents over the age of 16. To browse courses and book through their calendar you can follow this link here.
Children and Young People Suicide Prevention

Sadly, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in children and young people (CYP) in the UK and over the past decade rates in England have risen (RCPCH).  When a child takes their own life the devastation and pain this tragedy leads to is far and wide.  Every child’s life lost to suicide is unbearable and we don’t diminish this by acknowledging that thankfully the suicide rates for those under 18 in B&NES is very low.  Suicide is of course the extreme endpoint of children and young people’s mental health struggles and distress. Others may have suicidal ideation, have attempted suicide, and or self-harm. 

The priorities within our suicide prevention strategy equally apply to supporting children and young people as it does to adults. The following information updates you on some of the activity in B&NES that contributes towards this.

Keep up to date with current guidance and research, local trends and intelligence

NHS Digital data for England tells us that there is a rise in the number of children and young people who are experiencing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.   Across England: -
  • In 2022 18.0% of children aged 7 to 16 years and 22.0% of young people aged 17 to 24 years had a probable mental disorder
In B&NES we report our CYP data through our Strategic Evidence Base.  The most recent data reported highlights that rates of hospital admissions for mental health in those under 18 years is higher than the national rate but has shown some reduction in 2020/21 compared to 2018/19 & 2019/20. Females consistently have higher admission rates than males.

Within B&NES we also collect data on children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing through our school survey.  Undertaken on a biennial basis we conduct the Children & Young People’s Health and  Wellbeing Survey in partnership with our schools working with pupils in years 4,6,8 10 & 12. Headlines from 2022 indicated that of those 6,500 CYP who completed the survey:
  • Just 34% of primary pupils and 30% of secondary and FE students recorded levels of high self-esteem. 
  • Almost all responders said they worry a lot about at least one thing from a list of options with over 50% saying they worry about at least 5 of these a lot. 
  • 14% of primary pupils and 11% of secondary and FE students said if they had a problem, they would deal with it by hurting themselves in some way ‘often’ or ‘always’. 
So, what can we do?
Support for staff working in educational settings: Commission services in B&NES to support CYP needing help with their mental health 
  • Off the Record are commissioned to provide differing levels of counselling and mental health support to young people both in and outside of school , B&NES Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS)  provide a range of support including their community service, outreach offer, primary CAMHS service , eating disorder service and learning disability offer. This includes HarmLESS. – an Online information site about self-harm for B&NES professionals working with young people 11 -18 
  • The B&NES Early Help offer works with those experiencing a range of vulnerabilities that can impact on children and families mental health.
Tailor approaches to improve mental health in specific high risk groups 
  • Boys in Mind works in partnership with children, young people and professionals in a range of settings to promote good mental health and prevent suicide, particularly among boys and young men.
Support for parents 

PAPYRUS – Supporting your child – self-harm and suicide 
PAPYRUS created this self-harm and suicide support guide for parents following discussions with parents who have experience of supporting a young person struggling with their mental health. 

It aims to provide information and guidance to help parents cope with a young person who is struggling with thoughts of suicide, to reassure them they are not alone. It is available in both English and Welsh, a link to each is available here. 

Support for those bereaved by suicide:
  • The impact on a school of a death by suicide is enormous. The B&NES Coping With a suicide: Guidance for educational settings provides a step-by-step guide to support settings in the event of a pupil or member of staff death by suicide.  Review and update Coping with Suicide
  •  Further support for settings is also available on the HUB Loss & bereavement. suicide & self-harm including  comprehensive B&NES guides to bereavement in childhood and adolescence and early years plus links to national sources of support and guidance 

Training

 
  • Bath Mind First Aid Training- September  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. (£325pp)
  • Bath Mind's Suicide First Aid- October – 17th October- 09:15-16:15. (£163.00 per person). The course focuses on teaching the theory and practice of suicide intervention skills that can be applied in any professional or personal setting.

Tools

 
  1. 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.
  2. Switchboard LGBTQ+ helpline A one-stop listening service for LGBTIQ+ people.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5.  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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. HarmLESS. – an Online information site about self-harm for B&NES professionals working with young people 11 -18 Includes an online assessment tool. Provided by B&NES CAMHS Service
  12. Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis test service for mental health support. Text 'Shout' to 85258.
  13. Hopeline UK offers a safe space for those aged 35 and under to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting on your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe. 
  14. NSPA have a range of resources available to help people understand more about suicide prevention and bereavement support, who is affected and how people can be helped. 
Best Mental Health Apps of 2023
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

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