Ruby N. Kryticous’ Post

** Trigger warning - this post talks about suicide and how we can support World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 Today marks Suicide Prevention Day. Today we wear yellow to mark this day. A day that is close to my heart, having lost two loved ones to suicide within the last few years. For every person lost to suicide, many more experience thoughts of suicide or attempt suicide. The more we understand and break the stigma, the more global citizens can get the support they need. Each year over 720,000 people die from suicide. WHO indicates that for every one adult who dies from suicide, more than 20 others have made suicide attempts. This would mean that over 15 million people annually attempt or die from suicide globally. Beyond those already staggering numbers there are 5-10 people severely affected by each loss, such as family and friends. This would bring the total estimated number of people affected by suicide to over 20 million every year. This is a time that is set aside to raise awareness of this public health issue that we have historically whispered about or avoided discussing at all. It is well past the time to erase the stigma of suicide and suicide loss. It is an opportunity to educate those who are unaware about the impact of suicide, and re-educate those who learned from inaccurate or misinformed sources. It is a call to learn the facts about suicide and it’s devastating impact on our communities, and unlearn the myths and hurtful lies about those impacted by suicide. It is a call to action, to shift public perception and spread hope. It is a time of sharing resources and stories of strength and perseverance. It is a time focused on ensuring that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need in order to discuss suicide prevention, to seek help, and to heal. It is a time dedicated to ensuring that no one should suffer in silence, and that those who are contemplating suicide will be here tomorrow, and every day after that. For anyone feeling lost right now, know that brighter days are ahead. Lean on your support system, stay connected, and don’t hesitate to seek help. You don’t have to face it alone. Here are some resources that can make a difference: - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) - Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

*Content warning: suicide* On World Suicide Prevention Day, the Collaborative Centre is welcoming the release of two significant publications that aim to address the factors that contribute to suicidal distress. Yesterday, the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was handed down. The Royal Commission found that 2,007 serving or former defence personnel died by suicide between 1985 and 2021; including an average of three per fortnight in the past decade. That’s more than 20 times the number of people killed in combat over the same time period. The final report made 122 recommendations, ranging from the establishment of a new body to support defence personnel to transition to civilian life post-service, to initiatives to address bullying and physical and sexual violence within the defence forces. Today also saw the publication of the Victorian suicide prevention and response strategy 2024-34. This 10-year strategy provides an evidence-informed, whole-of-government and community-wide approach to suicide prevention and response. The strategy was developed in partnership with people with a lived and living experience of suicide – including people who have survived a suicide attempt, live with suicidal thoughts, care for or support someone who is suicidal, or have lost someone to suicide. These two documents recognise that preventing and responding to suicide requires collaboration and partnership across sectors, organisations and communities. We’re proud to support this collective effort through our forthcoming Translational Research Strategy, which prioritises models of care that support those in our community who are at disproportionate risk of suicide. By working together towards a system that cares for the whole person and building stronger connections between services that are currently fragmented, we can save lives. Read the Royal Commission’s final report: https://lnkd.in/gkaz8id Read about the Victorian suicide prevention and response strategy 2024-34: https://lnkd.in/gvyC72ED

It's World Suicide Prevention day. I wonder at times if some forms of suicide prevention actually increase the likelihood of us dying (e.g. rates of suicide following admissions). I laughed with my nurse this morning that I have to at least survive today, because the irony of dying on a recognised suicide prevention day would be a little too on the nose. I have a nurse this morning, because I am receiving involuntary inpatient treatment following a suicide attempt, alongside an inability to provide my body with nutrition and hydration - for the most part, because it feels like it tethers me too close to life. Involuntary treatment may be keeping my body alive, but it it stops there. This is not to say there are not good people with good intentions and good hearts. I am wrapped in one of my best friend's blankets. Another friend met me in ED when I was on an AO before being placed on a TTO. She held my hand, allowing me to finally get some sleep. I am loved. I am tended to. I still feel hopeless. When it comes to suicide we place the problem inside the person who wants to die. We say they are unable to make decisions. With the right diagnosis, pharmaceuticals and psychological interventions, they will want to live. It's all about awareness, skill building and emotional regulation. Through this lens, suicidality is not a sign that society is failing, but that a person has failed. For me, suicide represents not wanting to be in a world that has been a great source of terror, confusion and ultimately pain. I'm going to be very blunt here: the first time I remember being sexually abused I was 3. There have been so many other forms of relational violence since. Plus iatrogenic harms from the psychiatric system. Being strip searched for self harm, being strapped to a bed for scratching my arms in panic. Screamed at. Locked in seclusion. People say: ask for help! But when the help regularly mirrors the abuse you have been through, where do you turn? We feel like carceral methods help. It feels comfortable to believe we can be a savior. But what about the trauma caused? We feel comforted by the idea of check-list risk assessments, even when their accuracy is questionable. Because it's horrible to feel powerless. I think that people often want to die as a result of being impacted by systemic harms. Discrimination. Abuse. Injustice. We do people an epistemic injustice by denying their truth of WHY they have come to believe suicide is their best or only option. So where to? I think the answer comes in collective care, in dismantling systemic injustices, in being in community. I find comfort in the alt2su idea of "being responsible to each other, not for each other" Suicide is not a problem located in a person. Suicide is a response to a world that harms too many of us. I want a world where we exist alongside one another in our shared humanity, because that will keep us safer than any risk assessment or locked ward ever could.

Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. It's a day which needs a lot of reflection. This years theme was "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action being "Start the Conversation". This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how the complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support. I can hold my hands up and say I have been a person, many moons ago, that was suicidal. It was one of the most awful times in my life and I felt alone, exhausted and pointless. It was only me opening and sharing, it was intervention, that stopped me from making a decision which now brings me to tears even thinking about. I know I don't have to share this with anyone, but I hope it just raises that flag that these thoughts and feelings can impact anyone. You can appear to be all sunshine and joy, but underneath the surface there can be darkness and pain. I open up my doors. If anyone here ever wants to talk, needs help, needs urgent assistance - I am here ALWAYS. It's important to know there are also a multitude of services out there ready to embrace you and get you the support. The ones I want to flag for the UK are - 📱 Samaritans - Call 116 123 (free from any phone) or email  jo@samaritans.org 📱 National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day). 📱 Campaign Against Living Miserably - 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) 📱 NHS 111 - urgent mental health helpline - You can contact NHS 111 any time to access support for your health. To get urgent mental health support, call 111 and select option 2. I also want to touch on a very emotive instalment currently at Westfield. Called 'Missed Birthdays', the installation uses celebration and birthday balloons, to raise awareness of youth suicide. It features 6,929 balloons, each one representing a young person who has died by suicide in the last decade and the birthday they did not reach. Suicide is now the leading cause of death for people under 34 in the UK, with women under the age of 24 forming the fastest growing group in history at risk of taking their own lives. The trigger for suicidal thoughts and associated actions can be anything - It is critical we all are open to the conversation on suicide, that we are normalising the topic from a young age on what it may look and feel like to be suicidal, and that we have mechanisms in place to get support and offer it to others if and when such a crisis occurs. I raised a glass last night to 6,929 young people we lost. I hope through open conversations, installations and 'days' to recognise and destigmatize, we can save many many others. #worldsuicidepreventionday #womenincyber #mentalhealth #gethelp

Today, September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. I would like to join the voices in saying, suicide can be prevented. My angle today is on the role of media in preventing suicide - responsible reporting.Now that we have more access to information and engage a lot on social media, it is important to note that we all have a responsibility to prevent suicide through responsible reporting. According to an online article by  reportingonsuicide.org the media plays an important role in preventing suicide. It says; "over 100 studies worldwide have found that risk of contagion is real and responsible reporting can reduce the risk of additional suicides." It continues to say; " covering suicide carefully can change perceptions, dispel myths and inform the public on the complexities of the issue."Additionally," media reports can result in help-seeking when they include helpful resources and messages of hope and recovery." Here is a list of recommendations that can assist in safe reporting on suicide:Instead of describing or depicting the method and location of the suicide; rather report the death as a suicide, keep information about the location general.Instead of describing intimate details about the person who died, keep information about them general.Report that coping skills, support and treatment work for most people who have thought about suicide rather than presenting suicide as a common or acceptable response to hardship.Describe warning signs and risk factors, including mental illness,that give the suicide context in lieu of oversimplifying or speculating on the reason for suicide.Report on the death using facts and languages that are sensitive to a grieving family rather than sensationalizing details in the headline or story.Provide context and facts to counter perceptions that the suicide was tied to heroism, honor, or loyalty to an individual or group instead of glamorizing and romanticizing suicide.Research the best available data and use words like "increase" or "rise" preferably than overstating the problem of suicide by using descriptors like "epidemic" or "skyrocketing".Courtesy of www.reportingonsuicide.org

SESLHD MHS Suicide Prevention Care Pathway Working Group Creating a structured suicide prevention care pathway is such a crucial step in providing effective support for individuals in crisis. It’s inspiring to see a focus on evidence-based practices that prioritize the well-being of those struggling with suicidality and self-harm. By standardizing care, we can ensure that everyone receives the compassionate, informed help they need, fostering hope and recovery. This initiative not only reflects a commitment to mental health but also acknowledges the complex, deeply personal nature of each individual’s journey. It’s a vital move toward a more compassionate and responsive healthcare system. I'm excited to be part of the SESLHD MHS Suicide Prevention Care Pathway Working Group starting this October 2024-April 2025. This is a crucial initiative , and I'm focused to collaborating with other who share a commitment to improve mental health care. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those at risk, fostering hope and support within our communities. It's an opportunity to contribute to something truly transformative and I'm eager to help shape effective strategies that prioritize compassion and understanding. My passion for suicide prevention stems from a deep commitment to supporting individuals through some of their most challenging moments. Having collaborated closely with patients experiencing severe mental health crises, I have seen firsthand the profound impact that effective suicide prevention can have on their lives and their families. Every success story, every life saved, reinforces my dedication to this vital aspect of mental health care.  The SESLHD Service offers a robust suicide prevention pathway essential in creating a safety net that effectively addresses and mitigates risk. This suicide prevention pathway ensures that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the appropriate level of care at the appropriate time. It not only improves patient outcomes but also strengthens the community’s trust in the mental health services provided. For me, being part of this development means contributing to a framework that can make a significant difference in preventing suicides and supporting individuals on their path to recovery.  Thank you POW.

The Walsall Council Multi-Agency Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2024-2029 represents a significant commitment by local authorities and partner organisations to address the critical issue of suicide in the community. Building on the foundations of the previous strategy, this updated plan aims to incorporate learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic and the insights gained from the 2022 Walsall Suicide Prevention Audit. Key elements of the strategy include: 1. **Collaborative Approach**: Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including the Council, NHS, housing partners, DWP, educational institutions, police, and voluntary and community sector organizations. 2. **Community Engagement**: The strategy was developed following an engagement event with around 80 individuals from over 60 organisations, ensuring a broad representation of community interests and perspectives. 3. **Training and Education**: A focus on providing mental health and suicide prevention training to all residents of Walsall, with sessions available online or in person at community venues. 4. **Support Services**: Emphasising the availability of support services such as the Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline and the Black Country Support After Suicide Service. 5. **Targeted Interventions**: Identifying and supporting individuals at higher risk of suicide, including men, people who are neurodivergent, and those affected by domestic abuse. 6. **Awareness and Prevention**: The strategy aims to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, promoting early intervention and improving data and intelligence on the subject. The strategy underscores the importance of community involvement and the role of each organisation and individual in contributing to suicide prevention efforts. It is a comprehensive plan that seeks to provide hope, support, and recovery for those experiencing mental distress, with the ultimate goal of reducing self-harm and preventing deaths by suicide in Walsall.

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates compared to other industries. It's World Suicide Prevention Day. In mourning and memory of a good friend and mentor, I've learned to genuinely ask "how are you doing?" and am prepared to listen and act -- if necessary -- to engage with friends, family, and colleagues who are struggling. If you're hurting, it's OK to ask for help. Please, reach out to a friend, a coworker, a doctor ... just reach out to someone. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to speak with trained Lifeline staff. In Washington, dialing 211 will connect you to critical health and human services in your community, possibly helping regain some stability. The World Health Organization's theme this year is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide"; here's an excerpt from their website: >> Suicide is a major public health challenge, with more than 700 000 deaths each year globally. Each suicide has far-reaching social, emotional, and economic consequences, and deeply affects individuals and communities worldwide. >> The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation". This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support. >> The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of support. https://lnkd.in/e799Chuv

(This post contains sensitive topics, please read with care.) Today is Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide impacts people of all ages and backgrounds in Canada, and men and marginalized people are at a higher risk. Every year, almost 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide...this is almost 12 people a day. For every person lost to suicide, many more experience thoughts of suicide or attempt suicide. (Statistics from Canada.ca) On days like today, we often ask ourselves “what can I do?” Sometimes, it’s as simple as reaching out your hand and offering to listen, without judgment. Offering support when you're able can make all the difference. Just someone knowing they're not alone can make a difference, you never know how just one gesture can change someone's life. As a service designer in the healthcare space, I often hear the lived experiences of people navigating complex systems and struggling mentally and physically. I can advocate for the voices of the people I serve by: - Advocating for policy change, such as increasing funding for community-based mental health services and streamlining the process for accessing long-term care.  -Reducing barriers to access for those seeking immediate help, making emergency mental health services more accessible and intuitive. - Designing straightforward supports that are easy to navigate during times of crisis. - Reducing cognitive load for individuals and their loved ones as they navigate complex systems of care. If you're struggling or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to reach out. Every conversation matters. YOU matter. 📞 Please call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate crisis. 🇨🇦🇺🇸 📞 988 is the suicide crisis helpline in Canada and the United States. It can be reached 24/7 by call or text. 💻 https://lnkd.in/gcEj_k8b 💻 https://lnkd.in/gem7tJGi 💻 https://lnkd.in/gM2H_4RT

World Suicide prevention day. Things are tough at the moment for a lot of people. Suicide rates are high and so talking, sharing and asking are much needed behaviours right now. One of the TheZoo.London : The Consultant Collective consultants Patrick Melville of Mental Health and Marketing has written some thoughts that we wanted to share. Do you remember the Norwich City football team’s advert with the tagline “You Are Not Alone”? This tagline was part of a 150-second TV ad launched 10 months ago for World Mental Health Day—and its impact has lasted much longer. The ad focuses on suicide prevention and features two friends who regularly watch their local football team, Norwich City, also known as The Canaries. The football club’s website explains, “as the film concludes, it becomes apparent that the more outgoing man has died by suicide, dispelling the myth that only those who display obvious signs experience poor mental health.” You can watch the film and read more on the club’s website. The advert’s reach was nothing short of remarkable. The club harnessed the power of marketing and PR to deliver an important message about suicide prevention. While there’s still much work to be done, campaigns like this and events such as World Suicide Prevention Day are crucial in accelerating efforts to raise awareness and educate people about suicide thoughts and behavior. For additional resources, consider R;pple, an organisation focused on ensuring more help and support is available to those searching for information. They provide insightful statistics, such as: “there are 1.2 million internet searches for ways to “take your own life” every month, globally.” In my work at Melville Mental Solutions (MMS), I’ve seen a shift from focusing solely on why people experience suicide thoughts and behavio to also addressing how to talk to someone who shows these signs. One of MMS’s services is training adults to become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders®) with MHFA England/International brand. Two key roles of MHFAiders® include “having a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigmas” and “providing first-level support and early intervention.” For example, MHFA England shares a information from the Department for Transport and Office for National Statistics: “In Great Britain, during 2020, 1,752 people died in road traffic collisions and 6,749 died by suicide.” A thought-provoking question I often use to share knowledge is: if you saw someone on the edge of a bridge exhibiting suicide behavior, how would you approach them—directly or indirectly? MHFA England advises that “asking clearly and directly about suicide is good practice.” MHFA England training also emphasises using suitable language to avoid stigma and misunderstanding. One key learning is to use the phrase “died by suicide” rather than “committed suicide” or “completed suicide”—since suicide is not a crime. Reach out to any of the above or Samaritans on 116123.