Pick up the phone you are not alone

There is no simple explanation for why someone chooses to take their own life and it is rarely due to one particular factor. Suicide affects all types of people and communities and is linked to a wide variety of factors including depression, alcohol and drug misuse, unemployment, family and relationship problems, social isolation and loneliness.

The impact of someone making an attempt to take their own life are wide reaching, and as members of communities, it is everyone’s responsibility to look out for those who may be struggling to cope with day to day life and encourage them to tell their story in their own way and at their own pace. Offering a gentle word of support and listening in a non-judgemental way can make all the difference.

To help raise awareness of the range of support available, a new Suicide Prevention Zcard designed by the Shropshire and Telford Suicide Prevention Network (with representation from across health, social care, emergency and blue light services, voluntary services, experts by experience amongst others).

The Zcard provides:

• Brief advice and guidance on how to address concerns
• Contacts for a confidential, listening ear
• Primary contacts to seek immediate appropriate support

The card is small enough to be easily carried in a wallet, purse or pocket so as to be used as reference whenever needed.

The Zcards will be launched in Shropshire and Telford throughout this week (from Sunday 8 September 2019) to mark World Suicide Prevention day on Tuesday 11 September. The Zcards will be aimed at people of all ages who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or who are concerned for others.

The Zcards have been produced as part of the Shropshire and Telford Suicide Prevention Strategy (launched in 2017). The Suicide Prevention Action Group are continuing to progress other activities with priorities which will be centred around;

1. Reducing stigma of talking about suicide or self-harm to promote seeking early support
2. Raising awareness of suicide risk and what support is available
3. Providing appropriate support to those bereaved by suicide who are at greater risk themselves

Useful Resources

1. Free online Suicide prevention training (20 min video on see, say, signpost).
   This is a great resource on how to identify risk and how to have difficult conversations, it has been widely shared amongst our networks.
2. Help Is At Hand: national resource for support after suicide (physical cards available to order direct from the website for free).
3. Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership: Resources for children and young people