Forward Forward
Transcription
Forward Forward
PAPYRUS prevention of young suicide Newsletter Autumn 2009 no.40 Forward – Action and planning in Wales and England. Also in this issue... – New Partners aim high to beat the target – p8. – Calendar Girls. See fundraising pages – p10/11. Visit: www.papyrus-uk.org Out & Chair’s report Dear Friends Another AGM has come and gone – this was our twelfth! Many thanks to everyone who came to Birmingham – as always we very much appreciated the efforts you made to be with us. This year Kerry Napuk and Phil Pitchford stepped down as Trustees. Kerry has had a long association with PAPYRUS and has been an effective ambassador for mental health and suicide prevention in Scotland over a long period of time. Phil’s expertise in Human Resources and his contribution to the development of our helpline have been of huge benefit to the charity. Many thanks to both of them for their wise counsel. A warm welcome to both Maggie Candy, who joins us as a co-opted Trustee, and to our new Community Events Fundraiser, Elizabeth Daglish, who joins the team in Head Office. I also want to mention Colin Price. PAPYRUS is extremely fortunate to have many people who support us on a pro bono basis. Colin, our website designer for many years, is one of them, but his role has now come to an end. Colin’s design has been much applauded. With major developments for our website in the pipeline we therefore aim to keep its clean, crisp look as we develop it further. So to suicide prevention matters …In a recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide Prevention (APPG) I was able to convey directly to Phil Hope MP, There is still time to S support PAPYRU r and help spread ou ur yo via ge messa s. Christmas greeting as card includes a Our charity Christm HOPELineUK and brief description of cards are sold in contact details. The 50 per pack, packs of 10 for £4. d and can be ordere including postage from Head Office. our on s card sell If you would like to tel tact Liz Daglish on behalf please con ail 01282 432 555 em s-uk.org liz.daglish@papyru 2 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 Minister for Health and Care Services, PAPYRUS’s concerns with regard to planning for suicide prevention in England post 2010. (See New Horizons page 4) Our view was supported by many other organisations present. The APPG (see page 9) provides a most useful forum for the exchange of views and information and the opportunity to reach politicians directly or via the Chair Madeline Moon MP who follows up issues raised in these meetings with the appropriate Minister. Following a lengthy consultation period Talk to Me, the Action Plan to Reduce Suicide and Self-Harm in Wales was published on 2 November. This brings Wales in line with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, whose national strategies for suicide prevention have been in place for some time. As a Welsh person who has been campaigning in Wales over many years I am personally delighted to see that the Welsh Assembly Government is taking suicide prevention seriously. ‘Talk to Me’ is a great step forward. Success will depend on effective collaboration between all concerned and adequate funding for implementation. PAPYRUS looks forward to being part of this process. The Trustees and staff join me in thanking you for your continued support and wishing you the very best over the festive season. Sincerely Anne Parry Share a Card … and help the environment, too. If you are concerned about purchasing Christmas cards for each and every colleague at work or college, why not put the money to good use. PAPYRUS will supply you with a quality Christmas card which you can ask your friends and colleagues to sign and then display in a prominent position in your building. The amount everyone would have spent on cards can be donated and gift aided to PAPYRUS and we shall send you a certificate in celebration of the amount you raised. To join in please contact Liz Daglish Community Fundraiser on 01282 432555 or [email protected] about IN Brief It has been a diverse few weeks for Trustee Angela Robinson Angela represents PAPYRUS on the Westminster Suicide Prevention Strategy initiative. Here she provides an update on the Action Plan for 2009-2012. This is now being implemented. PAPYRUS is mentioned in the Suicide Prevention Document and we are listed as an attendee at the brainstorming meeting. Before this I had met with Chris Hume, the Suicide Prevention Project Manager. In the actual action plan it is stated that PAPYRUS and HOPELineUK will be promoted locally. Reference to HOPELineUK will be included where it is not currently, in signposting literature and also reference will be included in training and briefing for CAMHS tier 1 staff. It is to be ongoing and has a named person from the Children’s Services NHS Westminster with responsibility for this. HOPELineUK is also mentioned in ‘Interventions aimed at those who have attempted suicide or have suicide ideation’. Dramatic Interpretation of Suicide ! Angela attended a Reading of The Mass Suicide Club, a play by Andy Pandini. The rehearsed reading was presented as part of the London Bridge Festival in July 2009. At the end of the play the audience was to have an opportunity to comment and make suggestions. Andy invited PAPYRUS to this reading as he wanted feedback from us. The resume of the play was as follows: Six people meet each week with one aim: to kill themselves. Then Gabriel arrives, and the group tell their stories. As he listens to the club pour their hearts out he sees the people behind the stories and he can’t keep his mouth closed any longer. The play addressed the complexity of suicide and the many reasons we may find ourselves on the road to nowhere. It is a story about friendship, forgiveness, love and hope and ultimately a death. It is a sombre subject which I felt was dealt with not only sensitively and truthfully but also with some humour. The audience was very small due to the size of the theatre and appeared to number people with an interest in script writing and the further development of scripts into a play. Andy and the director Norman Murray now hope to develop the script into a one-act play. PAPYRUS is frequently consulted by playwrights, film and programme makers on story lines around suicide. doctors and staff at a GP practice in London’s Islington. Contents PAPYRUS in the Community ! PAPYRUS Co-ordinator Tony Cox has represented PAPYRUS at several meetings. They include a ‘Help is at Hand’ evaluation meeting in Derby and a Longridge Parents in Partnership meeting held at the Longridge Secondary School. The latter is a local group led by the Police Family Unit. As well as interested parents, several of the teachers came to learn how HOPELineUK could help them deal with issues they come across daily. Tony was also a speaker on the work of HOPELineUK at the Professionals’ Network Launch for BME Communities: Blackburn with Darwen. A showing of our If Only …’ DVD, which aims to help reduce suicide in South Asian communities, was complimented by several of the community development officers. AGM 2009 – Presenting a successful package. 4 New Horizons. DoH proposes a youth mental health service. 4 Why self-harm? – Exploring some of the possible reasons. 6 Freshers’ week – Manchester students sign up to the best team, and get a free teabag! 7 Deeside College – Our new partners hoping to raise the target for fundraising. 8 Getting into Parliament – without having to plot. 9 Liz Dalglish – fearless community fundraiser joins us. 10 Deck the trees with sponsored baubles... 11 Fill your bucket! A whole host of seasonal fundraising ideas to get you going. 12 Outreach Awareness Raising ! Angela and YoungPAPYRUS co-ordinator Amy Llewellyn spoke to student volunteers at a London Nightline training weekend at University College London to raise awareness of PAPYRUS and HOPELineUK. Nightline is a student helpline service that listens, provides emotional support and information anonymously to students. Angela has also presented PAPYRUS and HOPELineUK at a Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Meeting of staff at Harperbury Hospital, Hertfordshire and met with Don’t forget Recycle this newsletter. Pop it next door when you have read it or leave it at your dentist, doctor or hairdresser … helping to spread the word. Action to Prevent Suicide in North Wales Anne and fellow speakers at the Colwyn Bay Conference. The Action to Prevent Suicide in North Wales conference took place in Colwyn Bay this October, chaired by Anne Parry. The conference was organised by the North Wales Suicide Prevention Stakeholders Network with funding and secretariat from Vale of Clwyd MIND. After an opening speech by Anne, Phil Chick spoke about Implementing the Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Reduction Action Plan for Wales, followed by Sofia Wadman on the Welsh Youth Consultation on attitudes to suicide. Phil Chick, who has recently transferred to the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, was formerly Director of Mental Health within the Welsh Assembly Government. He developed the Suicide Prevention Action Plan for Wales under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Jewell. The 125 delegates were able to choose from many workshops of topical and clinical interest. The conference was hugely oversubscribed and the Network is planning a similar event in the Spring of 2010. To register an interest contact Carol Evans at [email protected] PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 3 AGM UPDATE Around 40 people attended this year’s Annual General Meeting which took place on World Mental Health Day on 10th October. The AGM is the one time in the year when Trustees, staff and members can get together to renew acquaintance or to meet each other face to face – perhaps for the first time. Our guest speaker, Dr Tegwyn Williams, (pictured) Clinical Director of Mental Health Services, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust, described how he and his team – along with colleagues from a diverse group of agencies – dealt with the apparent increase in suicides identified in his region. He graphically described the reality of living and working in Bridgend at the time of the media explosion, the huge intrusion into people’s lives and the fear of further copy cat suicides. Dr Williams also pointed out that many of the inquests into the deaths of young people in the area did not result in a suicide verdict and that despite speculation in the media there was no evidence of anything untoward connecting the young people that had caused the deaths. The AGM also provides an opportunity to demonstrate some of the work undertaken by the charity and to this end Amy Llewellyn spoke about the development of YoungPAPYRUS and introduced two of her young recruits – Omar and Jenny – each of whom spoke eloquently about the emotional well- being of young people. Press Officer Rosemary Vaux gave a flavour of our positive relationship with the Press Complaints Commission by highlighting some of our recent successes in persuading some national newspapers to adjust their online versions in line with recommended media guidelines. PAPYRUS Co-ordinator Tony Cox gave an overview of the Hew Horizons programme for Mental Health in England (see opposite). Trustees Martyn Piper and Anita Sutcliffe gave delegates an update on our campaign for greater safety on 4 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 Election of Officers A G M 2 0 0 9 At the AGM Anne Parry, Chair, Paul Kelly, Secretary and Mark Heaton, Treasurer, were all re-elected. TRUSTEES Margaret Brunskill – Merseyside Maggie Candy – Kent Eustace de Souza – Manchester Samina Hassan – London Paul Kelly – Oxfordshire Ken Lockett – Lancashire Anne Parry – Flintshire Martyn Piper – Wiltshire Nicki Ray – Berkshire Angela Robinson – London Anita Sutcliffe – Lancashire. the internet and our call for universal limitations on the permitted amount of paracetamol that can be bought in retail outlets. Trustee Angela Robinson, who represents PAPYRUS on the Suicide Prevention Advisory Group chaired by Professor Appleby, reported on the group’s progress. Amy Llewellyn (left) with YoungPAPYRUS attendees Jenny and Omar. “The reason I got involved with YoungPAPYRUS was I have had personal experience over the last year of two friends attempting suicide, and one friend’s brother actually managing it. I don’t pretend I can possibly know what losing a family member to suicide feels like firsthand, but I do know a little of what grief can feel like, having lost family members myself from other causes. I’m also aware of many student mental health problems around me as I study, and part of YoungPAPYRUS’s mission is to promote good student mental health at an early stage, before problems become extremely serious.” Jenny Our thanks to everyone who contributed to a most interesting and successful day. From July to October 2009, the Department of Health held a public consultation, called New Horizons in Mental Health. This sets out the Government’s strategy for mental health in England for the next 10 years and replaces the National Service Framework (NSF) which has been in place since 1999. A ten year programme for suicide prevention – the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England – has been running in parallel with the NSF and comes to an end in 2010. It is unclear how New Horizons will dovetail into any future suicide prevention policy on a national scale. PAPYRUS’s response to the consultation document included the following points: As a charity dedicated to suicide prevention we are disappointed that the New Horizons programme does not include a specific suicide prevention strategy. Suicide prevention has two brief mentions in the consultation document. Without the high profile the Government has given to suicide prevention over the past 10 years PAPYRUS fears the emphasis on this important subject will diminish. We welcome the focus on prevention in New Horizons. However, the allocation of funding needs to be carefully balanced. Finance directed to prevention should not compromise treatment provision within mental health services. There is one, new and innovative proposal in New Horizons, which PAPYRUS wholeheartedly supports – the development of a youth mental health service for 14-25 year olds. The charity identified this need some time ago. Many of our members have reported difficulties in accessing appropriate mental health services for their children. The boundaries between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services are often ill-defined with subsequent transition between one New Horizons – but where is suicide prevention? and the other proving difficult. We await further clarification on the proposed new service. PAPYRUS believes that a major injection of new funding will be required in order to achieve the vision outlined in New Horizons. Comment from Professor Louis Appleby, National Clinical Director for Mental Health For more than 18 months, the New Horizons team and I have been meeting with a wide range of people up and down the country. We’ve been listening to their hopes, ideas and aspirations for the future of mental health in England from 2010. A wide spectrum of views and a huge number of good ideas have been forthcoming from people who use mental health services, from carers, commissioners, clinicians and many more besides. Combining this with growing evidence about well-being and resilience, as well as learning from the best services in the country today, we have produced this report as a basis for further consultation. Already, a number of key themes are emerging: • prevention and public mental health – recognising the need to prevent as well as treat mental health problems and promote mental health and well-being • stigma – strengthening our focus on social inclusion and tackling stigma and discrimination wherever they occur • early intervention – expanding the principle of early intervention to improve long-term outcomes Will power ... For many of us making a will is never an easy subject, but it can become less difficult when we know we are leaving a legacy that will benefit others. Family and friends, of course, and if possible ensuring the ripple of our lives reaches further afield. Bequests to charities are exempt • personalised care – ensuring that care is based on individuals’ needs and wishes, leading to recovery • multi-agency commissioning/ collaboration – working to achieve a joint approach between local authorities, the NHS and others, mirrored by cross-government collaboration • innovation – seeking out new and dynamic ways to achieve our objectives based on research and new technologies • value for money – delivering cost-effective and innovative services in a period of recession • strengthening transition – improving the often difficult transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services, for those with continuing needs. The Department of Health is currently looking at what people said in response to the New Horizons consultation. It plans to publish the final New Horizons approach before the end of 2009. New Horizons consultation document can be viewed at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_103144 from Inheritance tax, currently charged at 40% on estates exceeding £300,000 – a tangible benefit. Those who choose to remember Thanks to the generosity of John and Brenda Carlile PAPYRUS has received a substantial bequest from the estate of their late uncle, Thomas Anthony Gane. “We have been left a bequest to nominate to a charity of our choice. Our son suffered from severe clinical depression for six years ending in him committing suicide in 2001. We have Sharing experience ... Dear PAPYRUS I am writing to you on behalf of ‘Elizabeth’s campaign – better mental health services for young persons aged 18 – 25’. The campaign’s objectives are to ensure better support service delivery specifically for patients who have received long term in-patient paediatric to adolescent psychiatric care and who are, at age eighteen, transferred into adult psychiatric services. As I am sure you already know young people who suffer from long-term mental illness mostly receive good quality in-patient care within adolescent psychiatric services. However, at age eighteen they are then transferred to adult in-patient care, which has a number of major implications to the young person’s prognosis. Once transferred to adult services, patients are expected to take a far greater degree of responsibility for their own medical and social treatment. Those people who have experienced long-term in-patient care from the age of fifteen, for example, lack the necessary social skills and emotional maturity to cope in such an environment because they have missed out on the key development stage during adolescence. Many see adults who have been in care for many years and feel a sense of despair at the thought of their own path. Specifically, there must be an interim unit for young persons enabling them to deal with the daunting realisation of their own care in an adult environment before the transition to full adult services, with appropriately trained medical, nursing and support staff. It is the campaign’s belief that this issue must be addressed and that there is a formal framework put in place so that patients can progressively learn the skills needed to take responsibility for their medical and social care that is dependant upon that patient’s individual needs and mental capability. Any framework should not only improve the quality of day-to-day living for these patients but also reduce the risk of re-admittance to hospital or even worse through the criminal justice service, once released into the community. Implementing such a framework would include specific hospital or unit based facilities, training for specialist registrars (SpR) working in paediatric and adolescent psychiatry in line with the RCPsych Competency Based Curriculum for Specialist Training in Psychiatry June 2008. The reason I am involved and concerned with this area of medicine is that my daughter Elizabeth Anna Rattenbury age 21 passed away on 11 May 09 taking PAPYRUS formally in their will her own life whilst an in-patient. Lizzie had spent many pledge to provide an important years travelling through the paediatric & youth services source of funding that has the but was totally unprepared for the next transition. power to save future young lives. Having spoken to her friends from the various units around the country, they all appear to have shared the been looking for a suitable charity to same fear and trepidation of the transition into the nominate and came across yourselves. unknown adult service and most experienced despair Having looked at your website we and lack of hope. have decided that we would like to Simon Rattenbury nominate you for this money since you Simon is a Clinical Microbiologist aim to help young people suffering based in an NHS Trust. from depression and to try and help prevent them from committing suicide. This would be a fitting memory to our PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 5 son Warrand.” IN Brief Cause and effect PAPYRUS has received a grant, over two years, from BBC Children in Need towards the operation of HOPELineUK and raising awareness that help is available. We thank the thousands of donors, fundraisers and organisations who ‘did something different’ and contributed to the campaign, which amounted to a record-breaking appeal night. This grant is a major boost to the work we do to try to prevent young people from taking their own lives. David Ramsden, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “Our grants are made possible by the amazing generosity of the public. They make it possible for us to help great initiatives like the HOPELineUK helpline to continue to help change young lives for the better.” All grants go to projects working with children and young people who may be affected by homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, or those who have encountered serious illness, disabilities and psychological disorders. PAPYRUS on The Life Channel PAPYRUS has recently collaborated with The Life Channel to conceive a strong campaign aimed at engaging vulnerable young people who may need help. The Life Channel is a community television network promoting services and information on health, wellbeing and community issues, reaching an audience of seven million people each month. The PAPYRUS campaign is a short, but powerful ‘advertisement’ urging young people in need to call HOPELineUK. It can be viewed at www.canproofit.com by entering PAPYRUS in the white box (it may take a few seconds to load). The campaign is primarily aimed for use in schools, colleges and doctors’ surgeries. To sponsor the campaign in your area, contact Jeremy Earley, Commercial Director at The Life Channel on 07814 255 298. www.thelifechannel.com 6 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 YoungPAPYRUS SPOTLIGHT: Suicide and self-harm Student fun on a serious note PAPYRUS member Louise Carpenter reports on The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health conference – Suicide and Self Harm: Strategies in Prevention and Intervention. Professor Phillip Graham set the scene with the complexity of statistical information available for self-harm and suicide in young people, highlighting the alarming fact that less than a third of young people who self-harm come to clinical attention. He reminded us that frequently there is conflation between the two and proposed that in his view, the epidemiology is quite different. Having underlined the dangerous myth that adolescence and depression naturally coexist, he highlighted the role of low self-worth, distorted adolescent perceptions and the social and economic context of young people growing up today as giving an additional perspective in understanding this challenge. Dr Peter Hindley, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Paediatric Liaison at St. Thomas’ Hospital, delivered a packed presentation on recent research findings. He pointed to the important disinhibiting factors of alcohol and drugs and outlined some high risk populations of young people – those in social care, bully-victims and bullies, youth offenders – supporting the need for specialist services. He moved on to consider social processes which indicate there may be some social modelling in male peer groups, also advising us of the strong association between difficulties in relationships, bullying and nonheterosexual orientation and pathology, whilst underlining that not all those who present with self-harming behaviours have mental health problems. Dr Julia Ronder, Consultant and Lead Child Psychiatrist in East Kent Hospitals and Dr Anja Malmendier–Muehlschlegel, This was an extensive, thoughtConsultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Lenworth clinic in provoking and rich conference. Ashford have both been jointly involved in setting up a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) informed service for young Louise is the Strategic Lead Specialist people with parasuicidal and suicidal in the Community Child and Adolescent behaviours within a busy Tier 3 CAMHS Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team, team. We benefitted from their joint North Wales NHS Trust. extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for DBT which they synthesised into an engrossing presentation, brought to life with case studies, covering the biosocial theory, where the young persons’ biological vulnerability leads them to process criticism from their invalidating environment badly, thus leading to The National Confidential Inquiry into pervasive emotional dysregulation. Suicide and Homicide is a research project at the Centre for Suicide Dr Dennis Ougrin, Specialist Prevention in the University of Registrar in Child and Adolescent Manchester. Psychiatry at South London and The recently published annual report found: Maudesley NHS Trust and Kraupl Taylor research fellow at the Institute • a fall in suicide by mental health patients overall and a continued fall in suicide by of Psychiatry, shared a model of selfin-patients harm assessment being developed at the Maudesley, which shows promise • suicide following absconding from the ward remains a serious problem in addressing the challenge of engagement with adolescents, up to • however, few serious incidents occurred following absconding from secure units. 77% of whom drop out of treatment. The research, funded by the National Patient As poor engagement is linked to Safety Agency, examines suicide and homicide increased suicidality and hopelessness, data for people with mental illness for England this is indeed an interesting and and Wales. The figures relate to 1997-2006 for important development. suicide and 1997-2005 for homicide. Fresh Megan (far left) chats to the students during Freshers’ week. Amy (inset below left) shows off the PAPYRUS stall. recruits Amy Llewellyn, YoungPAPYRUS Co-ordinator, on busy student activity and venturing into social networking. Flying corporate colours at Manchester University Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair was an enthusiastic team of YoungPAPYRUS supporters manning our purple-and-yellow themed stand. Attendance was overwhelming, with freshers eagerly queueing in the rain at 9 am. On each of the three days around 8,000 students passed through the event, keeping our volunteers Megan, Amy, Jennifer, Omar, Melisa and Lisa extremely busy. We distributed 800 flyers as well as toys, balloons, sweets and teabags to ensure we made our mark with these new students. In addition we collected hundreds of email addresses in an energetic recruitment drive, enabling us to follow the event with a personalised mailing to 423 individual students, with whom we hope to maintain interest in YoungPAPYRUS. In confidence The number of patient deaths by suicide has gone down to its lowest level since data collection began in 1997. In 2006, there were 185 fewer deaths than in 2005. The number of in-patient suicides has continued to fall from a high of 219 deaths in 1997 to 141 in 2006. There have been no reports of in-patient deaths using fixed curtain rails since 2003, following an NHS directive calling for them to be removed from wards. The report also found that the number of suicides by patients in the community who have refused treatment or refused further contact with services has fallen. However, in the 10 years to 2006, there were 469 suicides by patients who had left a ward without permission. Most were on an open ward – only five had absconded from a secure psychiatric unit. A full copy of the National Confidential Inquiry report is available at: www.manchester.ac.uk/nci Signing on... Manchester University’s Volunteering and Community Engagement Team – part of the Careers and Employability Division – invited YoungPAPYRUS to participate in its community fete on 8 October, a chance for students to find volunteering opportunities and for us to recruit. Whilst there were fewer attendees than the Freshers’ Fair, those that came showed a greater interest in joining YoungPAPYRUS and I was able to talk at length to around 50, all of whom left their email addresses. After touring the various opportunities available, students were then able to attend several panel sessions on the benefits of voluntary work. Stay connected via Facebook and Twitter PAPYRUS has expanded its online presence recently, with the creation of a Facebook ‘fan’ site and a foray into Twitter. You can now show your support for PAPYRUS by becoming a virtual ‘fan,’ by searching for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide in the ‘pages’ section of Facebook. You can keep up-to-date with news and events, as well as browse photographs from our fantastic fundraisers. This fan page is also linked to Twitter, which allows us to run a daily ‘newsfeed’ of activity. To keep updated via your Twitter account, visit www.twitter.com/PAPYRUS_tweets and request to ‘follow’ us, or search for ‘suicide prevention.’ Links to both pages can also be found at www.papyrus-uk.org Private messaging, discussion boards and other interactive features have been removed from all PAPYRUS social networking sites as a precaution. Although the internet can be used as a valuable tool to spread positive messages, we are very aware of the potential for harmful activity. Fundraisers wishing to add photos to the Facebook or Twitter pages can email them to [email protected] with details of their event. PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 7 Media monitoring is our business In the last issue I reported on successful media collaboration that resulted in the removal from several newspaper websites of information that PAPYRUS regarded as excessive detail about methods of suicide. We continue, in consultation with the Press Complaints Commission, to highlight irresponsible reporting and have had further success. Reports by the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mirror and The Sun all named a prescribed medication that had been taken by a teenage girl who took her own life with an overdose of the substance. We objected because it was medication that vulnerable teenage girls could easily obtain from their doctors. In some of these instances there has been substantial negotiation. For example in this latter case, one newspaper initially argued that because there was no reference to the quantity of pills taken there was no breach of the Editors’ Code of Practice and it was not willing to amend the piece. However, we successfully pursued. We are also raising concern about reference by some press to a bridge in Scotland as a ‘popular suicide spot’. (See below). Encouraging responsible media reporting that does not sensationalise, glamorise or normalise suicide is, I believe, an essential role for PAPYRUS. Our approach is always collaborative, never confrontational. After all, we also approach these same editors to run positive stories about PAPYRUS and to include HOPELineUK as a confidential, non-judgmental source of help for young people with suicidal feelings and those concerned about them. A third party such as PAPYRUS may complain on an individual’s behalf, so if you have a concern I shall be happy to handle it for you. And, of course, I am always happy to discuss other media issues that you might have. Rosemary Vaux, Press Office. Tel 020 8943 5343 email [email protected] Suicide Hotspots The term ‘suicide hotspot’ has two possible meanings. It is frequently used to refer to either a town, county or country with a relatively high rate of suicide among its resident population or a specific, usually public, site that is frequently used as a location for suicide. Many well-known locations throughout the world have become associated with suicidal acts. They include both man-made structures and natural sites, such as a bridge or a cliff, some of which have iconic status or significance. These places seem to act as magnets, attracting suicidal 8 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 individuals. There are also many less well-known locations and every local area will have sites and structures that lend themselves to suicide attempts. The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) recognises the high importance of this issue. As part of its contribution to the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England and to achieve an overall reduction in suicides, it has published guidance notes to assist multi-agency groups to identify ‘hotspots’ for suicide and to take appropriate steps to improve safety and deter acts of suicide at those locations. Partnership – Deeside College Partners dig deep Deeside College students and staff are hoping to raise lots of money for PAPYRUS as its charity of the year. PAPYRUS has been adopted with huge enthusiasm by staff at both Deeside College and Northop College of Horticulture. Staff member and fundraising co-ordinator, Paul Hinchliffe, is aiming to surpass last year’s extraordinary achievement of raising almost £27,000 for the NSPCC. Anne Parry, Debbie Thompson and Amy Llewellyn joined College Principal David Jones, staff and College students at a media photocall to officially launch the year’s fundraising. With bold promotional displays around the college, including a vast charity wall with plasma screen, PAPYRUS cannot be missed. Students and staff are now planning a series of events and activities. From Dragon Boat racing, white water rafting and sky diving to sponsored walks, bike rides and marathons it promises to be a busy year. Last month was the annual Principal’s Charity Dinner. ”It was a wonderful evening, beautifully presented and extremely well supported by local businesses and dignitaries, indicating the high regard in which the College is held,” said Anne Parry. “The work the students and staff do for their chosen charity is renowned and we are looking forward to working with them to help raise funds to support HOPELineUK.” The Rt Hon David Hanson, Delyn MP and Home Office Minister attended the Dinner. “As a patron of PAPYRUS I am delighted the College has adopted our charity for the forthcoming year. The evening itself was very enjoyable with some entertaining speeches and a wide range of fundraising activities,” he commented. Engaging students Not only is our partnership with Deeside college fantastic from a fundraising point of view, it also gives more young people the chance to get involved with the charity through YoungPAPYRUS. Through open discussion and problemsolving sessions, students will gain a greater understanding of the charity they are working so hard to fundraise for, and PAPYRUS will gain the valuable perspective of young PAPYRUS and Deeside at launch; PAPYRUS charity wall (right). people in further education. Deeside pupils will take part in relaxed forums with a focus on our current theme of transition from school, with the possibility of these evolving into a new project for YoungPAPYRUS. Similarly, general awareness raising sessions with staff and students are proving popular, providing an excellent opportunity to inform on suicidal indicators and available help. BTEC – Children’s Care, Learning and Development year 1 students are especially involved with the PAPYRUS year and offer their thoughts: Gemma Pitchford: Katie Pitchford: “The charity helps to save young people’s “I think it is good as it raises lives. I am hoping to be involved in raising awareness for young people money through a variety of events.” on how important suicide prevention is. I am looking forward to being involved in Charlene Blackborow: many charity events and “I feel it is important to inform took part in selling raffle people that suicide happens and it tickets for a harvest can be prevented.” hamper.” Principal QUOTE MediaUPDATE “PAPYRUS is the leading organisation dealing with real issues that could be affecting any one of our students right now. We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the charity this year, and I have no doubt that the students and staff at Deeside College have chosen a most worthwhile cause. The hard work and generosity of everyone associated with Deeside College, evidenced through many years of fundraising, will ensure that not only will we raise a large amount of money each year for PAPYRUS, but also just as importantly, a great deal of publicity and awareness raising. I have made it my personal mission this year, to make sure everyone I meet knows about PAPYRUS, and the great work undertaken by everyone involved with the charity. We have had a very successful start to the fundraising year, with many thousands of pounds already raised, and through a wide range of activities and challenges over the next 10 months, I am sure we will raise a record sum.” David Jones, Principal and Chief Executive at Deeside College. All Party Parliamentary Suicide Prevention Group. It is 12 months since this group was launched in the House of Commons. At the inaugural meeting in November 2008 Madeline Moon MP for Bridgend expressed the hope that the establishment of the All Party Group on Suicide Prevention would improve understanding and raise awareness of suicide and self-harm issues both with parliamentary colleagues and back in constituencies, advance dialogue with ministers and keep the issue of suicide prevention high on the Government’s agenda. The first meeting of the current parliamentary year considered Men, Mental Distress and Suicide: ‘How to reach young men with help and advice’ with speakers: Phil Hope MP – Minister of State for Care Services, Vicki Nash – Head of Policy and Campaigns, MIND and Professor David Gunnell – University of Bristol. Phil Hope’s ministerial responsibilities at the Department of Health include mental health services and the New Horizons programme which will set out the Five meetings took place during the parliamentary year and Government’s approach to mental health over addressed the following issues: the next 10 years. ! The role of the media with speakers Will Gore (Press Complaints Following each meeting Madeline Moon has Commission), Paul Holleran (National Union of Journalists), and Dominic written to the relevant Minister or Ministers to Rudd (Samaritans). highlight the issues raised. A number of specific ! The impact of the internet with speakers Professor Tanya Byron, Professor meetings with Ministers have taken place including a Sonia Livingstone (London School of Economics) and Dr Rachel meeting with Minister of Employment, Jim Knight, O’Connell from Bebo. to discuss the role of Job Centre Plus during the ! Learning best practice from suicide prevention strategies across the home recession and the support they are able to provide nations with presentations from Professor Louis Appleby (England), to vulnerable individuals. Dougie Patterson (Scotland) and Dr Sarah Watkins (Wales). The meetings were attended by Anne Parry, ! Suicide amongst forces veterans with Professor Nav Kapur as speaker. Rosemary Vaux and Trustee, Paul Kelly. ! People with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system with speakers Juliet Lyon from the Prison Reform PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 9 Trust and Frances Crook from the Howard League for Penal Reform. Welcome ed with the Once more we are overwhelm Support and ideas It is an exciting time for the charity and for the endless future possibilities for the fundraising department. We shall be expanding our website fundraising presence, publishing forthcoming events and fundraising news and introducing a new fundraising database to streamline communication with our growing number of fundraisers. If you are thinking of fundraising please don’t hesitate to contact me, I can suggest ideas for events and provide equipment, letters of authority, sponsor forms, donation envelopes, merchandise, posters, advice on how to maximise your event with gift aid and more … as well as a listening ear!! email: [email protected] Fearless Liz goes fundraising. 10 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 fundraisers... Christmas Tree Festivals Fundraising and donations Elizabeth Daglish joins the Head Office team I was absolutely thrilled to receive the phone call offering me the post of Community Fundraiser with PAPYRUS. After beginning my career in fundraising with a learning disability charity and then gaining valuable fundraising experience at the local hospice in Burnley, to work for a national charity is incredible; to work for the prevention of young suicide is personally unparalleled! Part of my role is to support individuals and organisations fundraising for PAPYRUS, building on the sterling support that Lisa and other members of the Head Office team have provided to date. This can be by supporting the event or helping in the organisational stages of fundraising, the other part is to raise awareness of the essential work and services that PAPYRUS provides. We already have fantastic groups operating in the Marches, North Wales and Aberdeen and I hope to engage an active volunteer fundraising group for Pendle in the very near future. I would also like to organise annual campaigns that would secure a steady stream of funding. I have talked to many of our members and current fundraisers and am very moved when I see their treasured pictures, read or share the personal stories behind their motivation to save young lives and the feeling this positive gesture creates. I firmly believe fundraising and raising awareness go hand in hand. our generous and energetic support of ! PAPYRUS-in-the-Marches Huge thanks to Stephanie Lyth-Lawley and her intrepid committee who continue their tremendous support for PAPYRUS and HOPELineUK. They have raised another substantial amount this year through a wonderful variety of events including their annual Christmas Fair as we go to press. … Brilliant, we all thank you …Ed. Sparkling piano recital for PAPYRUS ! A warm welcome to new members Ann and Dan Naylor who have founded a charitable fund in memory of their son James, which aims to fund projects to prevent young suicide. The first fundraising event for the James Naylor Memorial Fund was a Concert in September at Tonbridge School in Kent, the proceeds of which have been very kindly donated to PAPYRUS. It was very well attended and Trustee Angela Robinson and member Andrea Linell joined the audience, which packed the main school hall. The Pianist was Daniel Grimwood who has been acclaimed as one of the finest all-round musicians of his generation. He played a Chopin nocturne, Liszt, Schumann and the Rachmaninoff First Sonata. Angela gave a short profile of PAPYRUS, explaining its aims and current activities. Grateful thanks to Ann and Dan and to Tonbridge School and Daniel Grimwood, who both gave their services free. Andrea Linell Lions’ pride – David Barwick, Anne and Tony Parry. Lions Clubs in his District and made presentations about PAPYRUS to follow District Governors in the UK. Wonderful support for our work, and fantastic profile raising ….thank you … Ed. ! Manchester Super Six Six intrepid girls from the Manchester Triathlon Club completed an enormous physical and mental challenge, which is the first of its kind. Kate Gallop (24), Catie Smith (30), Anna Tayler (24), Deborah Tout (30) Elise Welch (29) and Katie Winter (26) climbed the UK’s three largest peaks – Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike, Snowdon – and swam the three largest lakes – Loch Lomond, Lake Windermere, Lake Bala – in a continuous relay that took just 58 hours, two hours ahead of their target 60 hours. That is over 10,000ft of climbing and 35 miles swimming from this super fit team that undertook a rigid training regime, determined to raise funds to help save young lives. “The concert was a great success with over 220 people attending. It augurs well for future fund raisers which are planned for 2010. The James Naylor Memorial Fund is delighted to donate the proceeds for the evening to PAPYRUS." Dan Naylor Lions’ fundraising a roaring success ! At the invitation of District Governor, David Barwick, Anne Parry was keynote speaker at the annual convention of Lions District 105BS that encompasses 65 Lions Clubs across North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. David presented PAPYRUS with a cheque, the culmination of a busy year spreading the word about our charity and gaining the magnificent support of colleagues. Each year the new District Governor nominates a beneficiary charity for the year. Guided by his two children, David chose PAPYRUS. Armed with PAPYRUS leaflets and information he has visited all 65 ! Hero Next Door Jacqueline Kent and her friends at Hero Next Door, the Aberdeen PAPYRUS fundraising group is flourishing. They now have the support of Granite Garters (Aberdeen Burlesque Society), which has shot a charity pin-up calendar to raise more funds. A fun Christmas stocking present, it is now on pre-sale at www.granitegarters.bigcartel.com ! Song4Emma The Song4Emma campaign has been an outstanding success through a programme of events and gigs, and of course the Song4Emma – 1000 Tears and God Bless recorded by Richie Wermerling and artists – in memory of Emma Curley, an avid music fan. You may contribute by downloading Song4Emma at www.song4emma.co.uk Very many thanks to Emma’s parents Ann & Steve Curley for nominating PAPYRUS, and to her cousin Stewart Craner for his dedication and energy. ! Pink Support for TATTOO JAM PAPYRUS was the nominated charity for this year’s three day TATTOO JAM at Doncaster Racecourse – the biggest tattoo convention in the UK featuring 220 international tattooists and 30 live bands. Huge thanks to the organisers and tattoo rocker PINK who donated a signed pink guitar for the auction. Amy Llewellyn and YoungPAPYRUS members did a great job raising awareness. Many thanks to all sponsors. Pink guitar won by Iain Bennett and presented by Amy Llewellyn. Running for fun and PAPYRUS ! Over the summer across the UK many put on running kit and trainers for PAPYRUS. Joining the Big Fun Run were Bruce Whamond in Dundee, Craig Howlett and David Bottomley in Leicester, Helen Burdess and Susan Barfield in Leeds and around the park in Derby, Harvey Toolan. Gerdwyn Steel ran the Swansea 10K, Ian Snailham the Manchester 100, Julie Carney (pictured left) the Adidas Women’s Challenge, Kate Lambert and Elizabeth Savill the Cardiff Half Marathon, Michel Mathieu the Glasgow Half Marathon, and Rebecca Linkwater the Robin Hood Marathon. Liz’s Seasonal FUNdraising ! Pick and Mix Your creative ideas never cease to amaze us … Our thanks to Jackie Slocombe and Graham Oritt who raised money at the Royal Mail and Newburgh Sports Club; Jamie Stephenson for determination through a challenging walk around Cornwall; Freddie Athill for cycling 4,000 miles across America; Louise Maisey for a sponsored silence; Mathew Wood for his journey Home to Rome in a Banger; Michael Mayland for cycling the French Alps; Molly Assheton for her brave sky dive; Simon Herbertson for his street collection; Joe Platt for selling wrist bands, Michel Mathieu (right, again!) and friends for their Inverness ‘Monster Challenge’ and Pearl Harrowell requested that PAPYRUS benefit from her special birthday celebration. Ideas... ! Going to your work Christmas party? Why not have a whip round for PAPYRUS. We can provide official donation envelopes. Count contributions the following day (hangover allowing), send us a cheque in the pre-paid envelope provided – and we’ll send you a certificate for your staff noticeboard. if dressed in Santa or Elf hats, ! Christmas Carolling is fun ared to return replete with not full costume. Just be prep tion bucket. mince pies, as well as a full dona Make this a special Christmas for the little children in your life with a personalised letter from Santa. Send us your full contact details and telephone number together with the child’s full name, age and address for the Santa letter, with a donation to FREEPOST PAPYRUS, Lodge House, Thompson Park, Burnley BB11 2RU. We shall send your child a personalised ‘handwritten’ letter. Fakenham Church Norfolk Member Di Butler is sponsoring a Christmas tree in the name of PAPYRUS in memory of her son David, at a special festival at her parish church in Fakenham, Norfolk. The Christmas Tree Festival is the highlight of the church year, attracting over 20,000 visitors last year. Each day during the week 3 to 10 December the church will be lit by 80 Christmas trees decorated for one of the charities taking part. Visitors donate coins to support their chosen charities, which range from large national organisations to local schools and nurseries. During the last seven years since the first festival over £200,000 has been donated to charities taking part. A lovely idea, thank you for your support Di … Ed Towneley Hall, Burnley PAPYRUS will also have a tree at the Burnley Christmas Tree Festival that takes place at Towneley Hall from 7 to 13 December – a fundraising event for charities. Our Head Office staff will be demonstrating their creative skills with decorations kindly donated by Dawsons Department Store, Clitheroe. Keep an eye on the website for a photograph. If you wish to reward their effort a donation can be made at Justgiving – www.justgiving.com. We also need volunteers to ‘man’ our information stall. If you live locally and could spare time between 12 noon and 4.30 pm on one or more afternoons please contact Liz Daglish. Gift Don’t forget to Aid it! g your fundraisin Aiding Simply by Gift pence an additional 28 you are raising RUS has r to date PAPY yea s Thi £. per ,a 4.54 in Gift Aid received £12,17 charity’s tribution to the substantial con ver, if all we Ho n work. tio ven pre e suicid the been Gift Aided fundraising had e been Aid would hav potential Gift t Gif y by ticking the £55,968 - purel x. bo Aid PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009 11 HOPELineUK Volunteers needed Could you donate a little time to PAPYRUS? Where? To support our HOPELineUK helpline team in Wrexham, North Wales. When? During helpline opening hours, particularly evenings and weekends What? ! To help maintain our information database ! Prepare packs of literature and promotional mailings ! Telephone reception work Interested? Please email or post a CV or short description of any previous experience, together with contact details of two referees to – Deborah Cocker, Office Manager, at the office address or email below. Fundraising Events Thursday 26 November. Tunnels Gig with live bands, Aberdeen … check out www.heronextdoor.co.uk for more details. Catch us on the web! Friday 27 November – 7.30pm. The beautiful Hom Church is the venue you doing so for PAPYRUS-in-the-Marches’ popular With so many of US we can’t annual Black Tie concert featuring much for PAPYR your efforts TRIPTYCH. Tickets are £25 and include do justice to all We are in the newsletter. canapes and a glass of wine. website redeveloping the Do join us for this very festive ed fundraising with an expand occasion. For information and tickets ding in tion, so keep sen sec please call Stephanie Lyth-Lawley on cking out your news and che for 01989 769 581. w.papyrus-uk.org ww nts. forthcoming eve Contact details PAPYRUS Lodge House, Thompson Park, Ormerod Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 2RU. Tel: 01282 432 555 Fax: 01282 432 777 email: [email protected] web: www.papyrus-uk.org For support, practical advice and information concerning suicide prevention call HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41. PATRONS: Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Simon Hughes MP. HONORARY ADVISOR: Professor Mark Williams – University of Oxford. FOUNDER: Jean Kerr – Lancashire. This newsletter is available online at www.papyrus-uk.org/NL/40 Back copies of previous newsletters are also on the website. Letter Dear Papyrus This is just a note to thank you for all you do when you listen gently with your kind voices which are so comforting when there seems to be no-one else to talk to and no-one who understands the parents. I regularly mean to send a thank you but I think this is the first in two years since I have spoken to you. My daughter L********** celebrates her 16th birthday at home for the weekend and we are so grateful for that and for all the support she has had despite the difficulties. Thank you is such a small saying but means so much, you literally do give a lifeline to people like me trying to understand and cope with their situation. So thank you, you are in my prayers. Keep helping others like us. From a mother. Donations, grants, trusts and fundraising Grants and Trusts: Ashton Foundation Susanna Peake Charitable Trust Zurich Community Trust Keoghs Coventry Charity Committee Charities Trust. Donors: PAPYRUS in Wales PAPYRUS-in-the-Marches Stephen & Sheila Habgood Bridget & Martin Wilson Anne & Richard Harle Joan Alexanders Jolene McDonald Mr McKean Ms Carolyn Eadie Mrs P Harrowell Mr Phil Mathews Mrs C L Francis Newcastle Under Lyme College Jazz Publishing Naylors Printers Abstract Printing Helen Flannagan of Coronation Street Pink Michael Jelly. In memory ! ! ! Edward Kerr Craig Painter Brian Shields Please note, the views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team or of PAPYRUS as an organisation. Any information contained in this newsletter is intended for guidance only and is not a substitute for professional advice. No responsibility for loss occasioned as a result of any person acting or refraining from acting because of what is written in the newsletter can be accepted by the publisher, authors or the PAPYRUS Trustees. Registered Charity Number 1070896. A Company Limited By Guarantee Number 3555482 Visit: www.papyrus-uk.org 12 PAPYRUS AUTUMN 2009