Suicide - awareness and support

You can find your local Urgent Mental Health Line by visiting the NHS website. The First Response Service (FRS) puts you and your mental health first, providing a service seven days a week, 365 days a year.

• If you're Devon based (excl Plymouth): Devon Partnership NHS Trust - Call the crisis line on NHS 111 (select the mental health option). 
• If you're Plymouth based: Livewell Southwest - Call the crisis line on NHS 111 (select the mental health option).
• If you're Cornwall based: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - 0800 038 5300.
• If you're Somerset based: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 0800 138 1692.

Free, 24/7 text/email/forum/call support:

• Samaritans: 24 hr helpline offering emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Helpline: 116 123 (free of charge from a landline or mobile) or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24hrs.
  
• SHOUT: text 85258 for 24/7 text support from a crisis volunteer.
• Breaking The Silence SF: a website for suicidal people and those in mental health crisis. They provide online forums, chat, information and support.

In an emergency: Call 999 or take them to A&E and stay with them until they are seen by a member of the mental health team.

Guidance to support a suicidal colleague

Remember – it is safe to talk about suicide with someone if they seem really down and you think they might be thinking about ending their life.

• You can find your local Urgent Mental Health Line by visiting the NHS website. The First Response Service (FRS) puts you and your mental health first, providing a service seven days a week, 365 days a year.
  • If you're Devon based (excl Plymouth): Devon Partnership NHS Trust - 0808 196 8708. 
  • If you're Plymouth based: Livewell Southwest - 0800 923 9323. 
  • If you're Cornwall based: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - 0800 038 5300.
  • If you're Somerset based: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 0800 138 1692.

If in doubt, follow the ALGEE steps:

• A – ASSESS for risk of suicide or harm. Call 999 if there is an immediate risk.
• L – LISTEN non-judgmentally. 
• G – GIVE information and encouragement. 
• E – ENCOURAGE professional help. 
• E – ENCOURAGE self help or other support.

Although we can play an important role in helping people, we must remember we are not responsible for the actions of somebody who is suicidal.

We believe that we can all make a difference to the wellbeing of our students and colleagues and work towards keeping those in our community safe. However, although we can play an important role in helping people, we must remember we are not responsible for the actions of somebody who is suicidal.

The University has developed this training programme as part of a community approach to mental health and suicide safety. 

There are four levels to the training:

• Level 1 training is available now for all colleagues to complete. This helps raise awareness and provide an introductory understanding of the skills needed to talk to anyone (students or staff) who may be at risk of suicide.
• Level 2 is available now for colleagues who have a student-facing role.
• Level 3 will be a 2-day Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England course for those colleagues with line management approval to become Mental Health First Aiders® student support. Further information will be provided when the course is available.
• Level 4 will be suicide awareness and risk screening for colleagues that have roles that require training to this depth (for example colleagues working in Wellbeing Services)

The training is run by Student Wellbeing. If you have any queries about this training please contact Joanna Blakely or Rachel Bragg. 

• Spectrum Life is our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a confidential, neutral service provided by an external company to support colleagues at the University. They provide free counselling for colleagues. 
• If you are experiencing anxiety or depression it can help to talk to your manager who can refer you to Occupational Health for support. Alternatively, you can make a self-referral direct to the Occupational Health Team. 
• The Access to Work Mental Health Support - a confidential service delivered by Remploy funded by the Department of Works and Pensions is available at no charge to any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work.
• NHS Talking Therapies (previously called IAPT)- free NHS support you can refer yourself directly to for talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies and guided self-help. 
• Taking good care of ourselves can really help us to stay mentally well. Take a look at the ‘Self-care and staying well’ section for resources and advice.

Losing a loved one, friend or colleague through suicide is incredibly hard. If this has happened to you, please don’t feel you have to suffer alone – there are organisations out there for you. Often survivors feel guilty, or even angry, and can be reluctant to talk about what has happened. If this is how you feel, remember you aren’t alone and - very sadly – there will be others who are experiencing similar thoughts to yours.

We really urge you to reach out and talk to those who can help you:

• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – support via email, their online forum, by phone or through local support groups.
• Pete’s Dragons – a Devon based support group which offers face to face appointments and phone support.
• Cruse Bereavement Care – Helpline 0808 808 1677 (open 7 days a week, hours across the day and evening). See the website for full details. Cruse online chat service is available Mon – Fri, 9am-9pm.