Written evidence submitted by the Devon Suicide Prevention Alliance

Executive Summary

The Alliance is working in the six areas that was recommended by the South West Zero Suicide Prevention Collaborative and using the Plan, Do, Study and Act (PDSA) approach.

1. Reduce the risk of suicide in high risk groups.
2. Tailor approaches to improve mental health specific groups.
3. Reduce access to the means of suicide.
4. Provide better information and support to those bereaved or affected by suicide.
5. Support the media in delivering sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour.
6. Support research, data collection and monitoring.

Introduction

The Devon Suicide Prevention Alliance was formed by Marie Ash, a person with lived experience and the Chairperson and Russ Drayton, a person effected by suicide and who works within mental health. The group was formed after attending a South West Zero Suicide Collaborative workshop in 2015 when both Marie and Russ decided something has to be done to reduce the number of suicides within Devon. The Alliance recently voted to remain an informal group so does not have a constitution or any funding this is to allow initiatives to “happen”. It relies upon members collaborative approach and their enthusiasm to make a difference. Members are not recruited but request to join the group. Current members include those with Lived experience and those effected by suicide, representatives from Police, Fire, Local MP, NHS Liaison and Diversion, Street Triage, Acute ward and Service development, Clinical Commissioning Group, Devon County Council Public Health, The Samaritans, Transgender community, Suicide bereavement charity Pete’s Dragon’s, Housing association, Community Voluntary Service, Drink wise age well

“We are a group of people from different perspectives who share a common aim to reduce suicide by introducing suicide prevention and post suicide initiatives across Devon”

“It’s Happening”          

Notes.

Letter of Hope was commissioned by Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) and was written by people with lived experience of suicide.

‘It’s Safe to talk’ is a suicide prevention guidance leaflet designed by Exeter university commissioned by Devon Public Health.

‘Keep Safe Plan’ is a leaflet designed by Somerset suicide prevention and recently introduced within DPT crisis teams.

Samaritans call-back is a Free Barnstaple Samaritans initiative where the service is offered to an individual, contacts details transferred to the Samaritans who will ring at the

agreed time on the agreed phone number for as long as required.

Devon’s Letter of Hope

Dear Friend,

We are a group of people from Devon who are writing this Letter of Hope to you because we care about you and what happens in your life. We do not know you, you do not know us, but we care.   

We care because, like you, we were struggling to stay alive. We attempted suicide.  We went to A&E, were referred to the Crisis Team, or admitted to hospital after attempting suicide and we survived.  We have done more than survive; we have found the courage to live again.  So please, if you are ever in such a dark and desolate place that you feel like taking your own life, this letter has been written to ask you to hold on. Give yourself time. 

We understand pain, especially emotional pain, which often others don't.  Emotional pain hurts so much.  It is that pain, along with loss, that brought us to suicide and to hospital.  Later we learnt that it was not death we wanted, but to end the terrible thoughts, feelings and pain we were experiencing. Because of the experiences we have been through, we came together to write to you offering Hope.  We survived.  We want you to get through this too.

We won't pretend to know exactly what you are feeling, because your feelings are uniquely your own. It is okay to feel the way you do.  You are not weak, selfish, or crazy. You are not beyond help.   Please believe in yourself, in what tomorrow might bring. Believe that you can get through this moment.  Allow hope into your life.  None of us claims that it is easy.  It can be challenging.  But however hard things get, life offers possibilities that you may have forgotten exist or have never even dreamed of.  There can be a time in the future when something makes you smile, sunshine brings you comfort, when the day ahead is so much better than today.  Please give yourself time.   We ask you to remember to seek help before life gets too painful.  Ask for the help you need. You are not alone.  Talk to a trusted friend, see your GP, contact a support group, talk to the Samaritans on 116 123,  or another National Helpline, many of which are listed on the back of this letter.  By talking things over a great sense of pressure is released; it becomes possible to feel better and for your problems to seem smaller and more manageable.  

Please remember, if you ever feel suicidal, ask for help.  Be clear to the person you speak with.  Use words like:  I can't cope, I feel bad, I feel out of control, or I feel crazy. Tell people it's so painful, I want to die, or simply, please help me.

We could write so much more to you, a long, long letter; in fact we did; we all did from our different perspectives and from our hearts, and it was those letters that led us to what is important, to the message in this letter to you.  

Please keep this letter, though we hope that you will never need it again.  We also hope that you can find someone or something to believe in. That can make all the difference. We have lived and we have loved again. We believe you can too.  We wish you well and we wish you a good life.  

With love, 

Devon 'Letter of Hope' Group

September 2016