September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day. But every day it is important to consider how people are affected by suicide. There are many ways in which a person may have experience of suicide. Whether they have experienced feelings of not wanting to be here anymore, made plans to harm themselves, or as a result of bereavement by suicide.
Statistics from the Samaritans show that more than 6,800 people died by suicide in 2018. With mental illness affecting one in four people, understanding mental health and suicide prevention is crucial to making a change. Suicide is not inevitable and with the right intervention, people experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings can overcome them.
The theme this Suicide Prevention Day is Hope. The Oxford English Dictionary defines hope as 'grounds for believing that something good may happen.' and sometimes a little hope is all it takes to help someone overcome negative thoughts and feelings. But sometimes, more help is needed. No matter who you are or where you are from, if you are experiencing thoughts and feelings of suicide it is important to remember You Are Not Alone! You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 at any time of the day or night.
Suicide is still a taboo subject, it can be a difficult conversation to start. But, research shows that asking a person if they are experiencing these feelings can help to protect them. By being open about suicide, you are giving them permission to tell you how they feel and to know that they are not a burden.
If someone does open up to you about suicidal feelings, remember that you don't have to solve all of their problems. But if you feel you can, allow them to talk to you about how they are feeling. If you feel someone is in immediate danger you should take action and call 999. But you should always take someone seriously who says they are feeling suicidal.
If someone opens up to you about experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings, you should try and signpost them to a professional. But there are ways that you can support a friend or family member through this. Make a safety plan.
You can download a template from the Samaritans if you need help.
A safety plan should include;
The plan should feel do-able to the individual who is having suicidal thoughts and feelings. It is important that they have ownership over the plan.
Having people around in a support network is important for anyone having these feelings. It is important to look after yourself also, so don't commit to anything you are unable to carry out. If you are trying to support a person, you could discuss with them how often they would like you to check in.
Try to notice their mood and the words they are using to detect if they are doing ok or if you think the situation might need more intervention. If you are concerned it is important to be persistent. They may not be ready to open up right now, but by letting them know that you are there for them - when they are ready it may help to know that you are there.
Together we can all make a difference.
For more information you can visit our website
RECENT POSTS
I don’t think I could recommend NWCH enough! My counsellor is great, I feel understood and hopeful and never judged. Thank you!
Young person Accessing NWCH Counselling Service
My son is opening up to Wayne about all aspects of losing his Dad - happy memories and the painful truth that he won’t be coming back. Wayne has taught him to acknowledge the pain but also remember the many happy times. The counselling he has had with Wayne has been invaluable.
Mum of her young son Accessing NWCH Counselling Service
Coming in for couples counselling, we were both nervous about how the session would work having not done anything like this before.
He listened to each of us and made it feel very light-hearted and easy. We were able to share our feelings and thoughts and Ian gently guided us to explain our views to help us see each other’s views and gave us things to think about for next week.
Couple Accessing NWCH Counselling Service
Personally, I was a very sceptical individual and initially attended as a good Will gesture to my family who had encouraged me to do so……. that being said I found myself to be able to talk to (let’s be honest, a stranger) about my life and its difficulties in an open and comfortable fashion……. don’t get me wrong I’m no soft touch! But I found it genuinely comforting to be able to do so! …. it makes me ask and look for answers from myself ….. rather than someone with a title telling me what’s wrong……,
Adult Accessing NWCH Counselling Service
The match of counsellor has meant my husband looks forward to his sessions & already is feeling happier & we as a family are seeing a difference. It is detail like this that makes asking for help via the NW Counselling Hub stand out – plus the reassurance all counsellors are qualified.
We cannot recommend the NW Counselling Hub enough and thank them for all they are doing for our family.
Adult Accessing NWCH Counselling Service
“We want to support our team when ‘life happens’. We asked NWCH to be our ‘go to’ support service for counselling and emotional support to help members of our team, if they need it, get them through some difficult personal issues such as bereavement and anxiety. The team at the hub are incredibly supportive and have provided a lifeline to our team”
Lincoln Employer referring employees to NWCH Counselling Service.
“NWCH have been providing counselling services to our employees for a few years now and I can honestly say that they have made a significant difference to many of their lives.
We are a company that believes in investing in our staff, and it is great to see when that investment is so profound and has such a positive impact, especially when it comes to people’s wellbeing.
Thank you NWCH, for enabling us to offer our teams such fantastic support and help to feel better when they face challenging times.”
HR Manager at Micronclean Ltd
OFFICE
CONTACT INFO