The OLLIE Foundation

Reflecting on our International Men’s Day event yesterday I wanted to thank eveyone who attended our online event Such a rich conversation but inevitably, with only one hour and so many experiences to share, we didnt cover even half of what we had hoped to touch on, and in the end, everything came back to well-being and good mental health. Here are some of the key takeaways from guys who are reshaping the narrative around mental health, masculinity, and resilience: 🎙️ Mental Health, Sport, and Workplace Well-being: Phil from @IMAB emphasised the importance of balancing ambition and mental health, sharing how his company’s partnership with The OLLIE Foundation promotes a healthier work culture. joe cartwright a senior paramedic, shared how paddleboarding has become a lifeline for managing his own mental health after facing the trauma of suicide in his profession. Joseph Hall from Affinity Water highlighted how workplaces can foster open conversations about mental health, normalising it alongside physical health. Shaun Pascal a London Met Police Officer, shared how addressing his own struggles with anxiety and depression has deepened his understanding of mental health and its impact on families. 🎯 Challenging Toxic Masculinity: The group explored how societal expectations have shaped masculinity across generations. Chris Sibley reflected on the pressures of being a “breadwinner” and the evolving conversation around what it means to be a man. Joseph Hall and David Haze shared how environments where vulnerability was seen as weakness affected their early lives, and the steps they’ve taken to change that narrative. 🚑 Mental Health in High-Stress Professions: joe cartwright highlighted the urgent need to support mental health in the ambulance service, where paramedics face daily trauma. Stressing his belief that normalising these conversations is essential to saving lives. 🏢 Mental Health in the Workplace: Joseph Hall discussed how companies like Affinity Water are empowering mental health first aiders to provide critical support, emphasising that sometimes, listening is the most powerful tool. Following on from International Men’s Day 2024, we celebrate the courage it takes to open up, challenge stereotypes, and support one another. Let’s continue building a world where men can thrive emotionally, physically, and mentally. If you would like to continue the conversation, we are excited to announce that you can sign up to our new online men's group. Dates: December 5th, 8:30pm and December 17th, 7:00 PM Goals: ✨Create a safe space to discuss challenges and triumphs. ✨Learn practical tools for effective goal-setting. ✨Foster a community that celebrates growth and progress. Book your free place here: https://lnkd.in/e3HtBqrN #InternationalMensDay #OneLifeLostIsEnough

Always great to hear from our founder Chris Sibley Thanks National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society for the opportunity

Without a doubt our #shero of the week Thank you Nicole Wright for being such an inspiration and for your generosity to others 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Do you want to know more about the history of suicide, and how it's shaped our response today? This short, thought-provoking talk offers valuable insights at the historical perspectives of suicide and it's influence on modern attitudes today. You'll leave with actionable strategies to better support your loved ones! 💡 Discover how language can convey both intended and unintended messages in suicide prevention. 🌍 Understand the influence of WHO's initiatives on global suicide prevention efforts. 📚 Explore medical vs social perspectives on suicide response and their implications. 💊 Consider how antidepressants and other commons medications can cause suicidal ideation in some people and what more we can do a protect patients. 🗒️ Learn how innovative resources can support in preventing unintended consequences or iatrogenic harm. Details: Date: This Wednesday 20th November Time: 7pm (London, UK) Location: Online via Zoom This session is FREE to attend, so head to our website or follow the link below to register your place now! https://lnkd.in/ei4ewXgk #TheOther51 #ItsAPeopleThing #OneLifeLostIsEnough

🎲 Happy National Play Monopoly Day! 🎩 This year, we’re thrilled to celebrate Monopoly with a special twist—The OLLIE Foundation is featured on the brand-new St Albans edition of Monopoly! 💛 It’s an incredible honour to be part of this iconic game alongside so many wonderful local landmarks and organisations. Every roll of the dice reminds us of the importance of community, connection, and giving back. When you play the St Albans edition, look out for The OLLIE Foundation and take a moment to reflect on the vital work we do in suicide prevention and mental health education. Together, we’re creating a safer, more compassionate world for young people and their families. Why not gather your friends and family today, play the St Albans edition, and share your photos with us? Let’s make National Play Monopoly Day a celebration of fun and support for our community. 📸 Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! If you have not yet managed to get a set, dont worry, you can pick one up from us at the Harpenden Christmas Market on Sunday 24th November #NationalPlayMonopolyDay #StAlbansMonopoly #ItAPeopleThing

We are so grateful to be working with Carrie and David Grant and cannot wait to host our talk with them on the 28th of November when we get up close and personal with the reality of child-on-parent abuse. Tickets are now sold out but we can add you to the waiting list should anyone cancel and a ticket becomes available - please email contactus@theolliefoundation.org if you would like to be added to the waiting list 🧡 The Grant's acclaimed book 'A Very Modern Family' came out in paperback this month and has already had a reprint! Available online and in shops a must read for all those families struggling with “gorgeous but complex children” - The Grants want you to know they "see you, hear you, we are you" ♥️ The Times: So much more than a parenting manual - the Grants have thrown out a lifeline. The Daily Mail: The most extraordinary parenting guide of our time. For professionals who want to know more about child-on-parent violence, The Grants in collaboration with the OLLIE Foundation, will be hosting a Q&A Session on the 18th of December at 4pm. Their talk on the 28th sold out within hours, so please dont delay and register your interest by emailing contactus@theolliefoundation.org if you want to attend this very special event.

Rayner Essex LLP and The County Club were delighted to raise £1,310 last Thursday for The OLLIE Foundation! The Quiz was hosted at the County Club in St Albans with teams entered by club members together with the local business community from St Albans. The quiz masters were Anil Virji and David Hughes who kindly donated their services free for the evening - Thank you Anil and Dave! OLLIE desperately needs funds at the moment and the money raised will significantly assist the Charity in continuing to deliver suicide prevention training for anyone who needs it. Thank you to everyone who supported the evening including SA Law St Albans & London, Debenhams Ottaway, FRP Advisory, Connexus Cloud, Rayden Solicitors, Rayner Essex LLP and especially Terry and the team from the County Club

Behind Closed Doors: Understanding and Addressing Child-on-Parent Violence OLLIE is proud to shine a light on a subject that is so often hidden but is breaking families in ways you cannot imagine - join us for an incredible evening with Carrie and David Grant as they share their lived experience, and open up about an often-silenced struggle - child on parent violence. What to Expect: - A candid look at the reality for parents facing threats from their own children. - Insights into the complex dynamics of children self-threatening. - The profound effects on the wider family. - Updates on life today, with their child now living away from home. - Discussion on trauma, attachment, and the unique issues surrounding adoption. - A breakdown of available services—and the painful gap when they’re lacking. - A look into what lies ahead for young adults facing inadequate support. - An introduction to Non-Violent Resistance and its effectiveness as a response. Why Attend? 🌱 For Parents: Knowing you’re not alone can be a first step toward healing. 🌱 For Professionals: Gain insights into practical ways to support parents and challenge broken or missing systems that need change. Thursday 28th November 7-8:30pm Online via Zoom Suitable for ages 18+ Together, let’s shed light on a hidden and brutal reality and work towards supportive solutions for parents and their children. https://lnkd.in/e8SUysMb

William Grave created such in important short. If you have not seen it yet, see the link below. And if you work in education, please feel free to download our accompanying mini curriculum here: https://lnkd.in/epuHf8kT

For years, the conversation around suicide has focused on men—rightly so, as 3 in 4 suicides are male. But what we don’t often hear is the fact that 3 in 4 suicide attempts  are carried out by women. Tragically those numbers are changing. Recent data from the ONS shows a 32% rise in female suicide rates in the UK. Even more alarming, we’re seeing methods traditionally associated with men, methods that are usually instant, now being used more often by women. It is an alarming thought, but we may be approaching a tragic parity between male and female suicide rates. What’s driving this?  We have already mentioned 'means' and this is significant but let's take a step back and consider cause and effect - what is causing women to reach a place where the effect is they want to end their life? Antidepressants help lots of people and we certainly wouldn’t want people to stop using meds or seeking help for their anxiety and depression. However, many patients are perhaps not clear when they leave with their script, that like many medications, antidepressants can cause a paradoxical reaction in some users. This means they can cause the thing they are trying to prevent, in this case, suicidal thoughts and behaviours. We know from the manufacturers themselves that around 1:200 will experience deteriorating mood as a side effect of their medications. Now stick with me .....figures show that many more women than men use antidepressants. In England, as in Finland and The States it is around double compared to males. In fact, in the past 20 years, there has been a four-fold increase in prescribing rates, with women. Some figures suggest that 40% of females aged 45-64 years were prescribed an antidepressant in the past year. So if twice as many women take antidepressants and 1:200 will experience side-effects that can include suicidal thoughts, could this be one of the reasons we are seeing this shocking increase in the rates of suicide in women? Is it possible that the good intentions that encourage prescribing medication, are creating a new public health issue and one that is disproportionately affecting women because women are more likely to reach out for help and in doing so, are more likely to be put on antidepressants? We want you to be safe while accessing the medication you need, so we developed a Prescription Safe Plan, a free tool to help patients and prescribers talk through potential side effects of medications like antidepressants, and what to do if suicidal thoughts are experienced. It’s available for free, on our website in 16 languages and aims to help everyone navigate these risks—just like we would with antibiotics and allergic reactions. These conversations are life-saving so please download a Prescription Safe Plan here: https://lnkd.in/eddjFtk9 If you are a prescriber, watch Dr Alison Cowan talk about how to use this resource here: aehttps://lnkd.in/ee4DXugA