Improving Mental Health and Prevention of Suicide
Notes for Dr Sarah Wolleston MP Chair of Health Select Committee
from Linden Lynn Former Lead for Recovery Devon
“I had a friend that died by suicide. For years, when I'd think of him, I'd cry. I cried because he was such a bright light, a sensitive and loving soul and he couldn't see it. I cried because he hid his pain too well. I cried that hard deep cry as I went through it all again and again in my mind replaying each word I'd said to him, each word I hadn't ... He came to me in a dream years later ... said that he was sorry, that had he known how many hours and how many days we that loved him would spend crying in the torment of his choice and his absence, had he known that we would become the carriers of his pain, he would have chosen differently."
This quote is from a conversation I found on the internet a decade ago, It was shared widely at the time including on the About Bipolar website. The link no longer works. Please Stay by Jeweliet, Post #3 in thread
I’ve begun with this because people often don’t acknowledge the pain and grief of those left behind and the costs of such grief to their lives and communities. I carried this with me for a long time to keep myself alive.
it is my view that if people are to have good mental health we must as a country invest in support and have parity of esteem with physical health.
Things that can be done
a) Share information…be transparent, governments, doctors, teachers, parents, workforce, kids. NO Secrets.
b) 1) Be informed, Professionals, Hospitals, GPs, nurses, chemists, pharmacists. police, social workers, Head teachers, teachers, parents, friends.
2) Use TV Newspapers, social media to spread the message There is Hope. Develop and use suicide prevention websites and apps.
3) Develop practical ideas alongside those at risk of and survivors of suicide and their families to improve communication and hope. Build on the work of the Zero Suicide Collaborative
c) Focus on Prevention - Build on the five ways to wellbeing.
CLANG Connection, keep Learning, Activity, Noticing and Giving
https://www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk/Five-ways-to-wellbeing.415.0.html
Keep those at risk as far as possible active in the wider community, reduce isolation, community education classes, job opportunities and places for people to gather and support each other.
d) Value and keep the voice of People with Experience of Mental health challenges in the picture.
e) Share best practice where-ever it can help.
In Devon we have produced a Devon Letter of Hope
This is based on the American Letter Read this first. http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/index.html
Letter of Hope from Devon along side individual letters from others and support for families and friends
http://recoverydevon.co.uk/category/support/what-is-recovery/recovery-in-action/finding-hope/
Our letter has not yet been finally published but is available on the recovery devon website
http://recoverydevon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/letterofhope-designver.pdf
All the links on the information page of our letter are vital so that individuals know they are not alone.
Each deserves investigation so that people know of their value
f) Focus and invest in Recovery Stories and Stories of Hope.
Devon’s “ Beyond The Storms -Reflections on Personal Recovery in Devon” has been valued by many who have shared that has helped them overcome the isolation of mental illhealth.
http://recoverydevon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Beyond_the_Storms.pdf
g) Suicide Prevention Groups. With wide public support to meet locally and nationally; Counsellors in schools to support those children at risk. Use of Circle Time activities in schools; clubs etc. Zero tolerance of bullying. Use of Art , dance expressive medium to release some of the distress.
h) Statutory provision could include CBT groups meeting in GP surgeries , led by a professional and a person who has learned how best to manage their own mental health .
i) Education support classes where there is extra funding for additional staff to allow more vulnerable people to attend.
j) Recovery Colleges with courses that are run by health professionals and those with lived experience have proven to help many. Devon has it’s own recovery Learning Community with has been run successfully for over 3 years it grew out of the IMROC project - Implementing Recovery Organisational Change . There is a wealth of far sighted materials produced by some of the best minds on the subject.
k) Supporting someone at risk of suicide
It's a myth that people who talk of suicide won't take action
Studies have shown that 75% of people at risk of suicide did things in the days weeks or months before that indicated their intentions.
The suicidal person is often ambivalent about wanting to die part of them at some level still wants to live or else they would have died. If you really want to die nothing cna stop you.
1) Take it seriously.
2) Remember that suicidal behaviour is a cry for help.
3) Be willing to give or get help sooner rather than later.
4) Listen Give the person a chance to unburden Hear and try to understand Be patient and sympathetic Avoid giving advice or arguments. Keep the emotional temperature low.
5) Ask. Don't hesitate if some-one is very low it's Ok to ask Have you had thoughts of suicide.
6) If the person is an acute crisis don't leave him or her alone. If the means to complete suicide are there are there try to remove them from the home.
7) Urge professional help. be willing to be alongside the person when they visit the GP /A&E
8) NO Secrets. The part of the person who is afraid of more pain says Don't tell anyone Be patient, but also say I need to have a conversation..I may need to talk to with a friend who can advice /support you and me.
9) Moving toward recovery
Many people have suicidal thoughts or feelings at some point in their lives; yet less than 2% of all deaths are suicides. Nearly all people who feel suicidal suffer from conditions that will pass with time or with assistance. There are hundreds of small steps we can take to improve our response to build our own strength or to help individuals who are feeling suicidal and to make it easier for them to seek help.
Sadly I am personally aware that the damage from suicide can run on from generation to generation.
Investment in mental health can and will save money in the long run. Actively taking small steps toward education in each community can save many lives and reduce a great deal of human suffering.