Bereaved By Suicide

As many as 1 in 4 people experience suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. Although it impacts the lives of many, conversations about suicide can still be difficult and uncomfortable.

Dudley’s Suicide Prevention Partnership, championed by the Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board, is here to help change the public perception of suicide and to encourage those affected to reach out.

These pages will provide information and support for anyone that is worried about someone considering suicide and anyone who is bereaved by suicide. Help is out there. Please remember you are not alone.

Every year thousands of people in the UK are affected by the death of a loved one by suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day that takes place on 10th September, to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. WSPD is hosted by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. For more information please visit their Website.

World Suicide Prevention Day is also a collaboration between charities and organisations working together for change and improvements in policy, research, bereavement care and support for those affected by suicide.

If you are worried about somebody that you know or you would like to tell someone about your feelings, the following organisations will provide confidential support.

SAMARITANS:

Tel: 116 123: 201 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland and a free phone line counselling service. Samaritans provides support for anyone who needs it.

STAMP OUT SUICIDE:

Tel: 07766 808 222: Free phone line counselling service that is accessible to anyone in the UK in need of support.

PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK:

Tel: 0800 068 4141: A national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide; providing a free phone line.

SOBS:

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is a self-help organisation providing help and support for people bereaved by suicide.

SUPPORT AFTER SUICIDE PARTNERSHIP:

Brings together suicide bereavement organisations and people with lived experience, to give practical and emotional support for anyone bereaved by suicide.

CRUSE:

Cruse offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.

Kaleidoscope Plus Group   (Est 1973) offers a wide range of services for those experiencing mental health difficulties. Their services can be found through the link provided.  Their Suicide Prevention work involves providing training, along with supporting communities in raising awareness, hosting suicide bereavement support meetings and providing support through the 24/7 text crisis line (details of both support services are on their website)

The four video-stories below were developed to help encourage conversations around suicide and to help people understand the importance of support following a suicide

OLIVER’S LEGACY

Dudley Mind is promoting bereavement group work and also individual support from September 2020. To find out more about how you can access these through Oliver’s Legacy please contact Dudley Mind on 01384 442938 or email enquiries@dudleymind.org.uk

It is natural for a parent or carer to want to protect their child from pain after the death of a loved one, especially a death by suicide. However, a suicide can quickly become public knowledge with police visits, an inquest, media and social media interest also children may hear rumours and fragments of information. An honest explanation of the facts, in language appropriate to a child’s age, given by people they can trust and who will continue supporting them, is often the best protection given to children.  It is important to avoid euphemisms and terms such as ‘committed suicide’.

Winston’s Wish provides advice and resources including their book Beyond the Rough Rock which provides practical advice for families bereaved by suicide in the immediate days and weeks. It includes child-friendly activities to help families begin to make sense of what’s happened and looks at coping strategies. All Dudley schools have received this book in their Bereavement Box.

Other Useful Links to Support Children & Young People

UK SOBS – Supporting Children & Young Adults Bereaved By Suicide

CRUSE – Supporting Pupils Bereaved By Suicide 

CHILD BEREAVEMENT UK – Supporting  Children & Young People Bereaved By Suicide

CHILDMIND – Coping with a Parents Suicide

CHILDMIND – Supporting Children After the Suicide of a Classmate

You can access these support organisations for more help, advice and information about suicide.

REACH OUT DUDLEY:

Website produced by Dudley’s Health and Wellbeing Board which directs to services that can support people having suicidal thoughts and people who have been bereaved by suicide

PAPYRUS:

Tel: 0800 068 4141: A national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. Their phone line is free to contact

CALM:

Tel: 0800 585 858: The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) runs a free and confidential helpline and webchat: 7 hours a day 5pm – Midnight, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Aimed at men who need to talk about life’s problems. They support people bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP)

SAMARITANS:

Tel: 116 123: 201 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland and a free phone line counselling service. Samaritans provides support for anyone who needs it

SAMARITANS:

Tel: 0800 069 6222: A confidential support line for NHS workers, open 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week, and run by dedicated and trained Samaritan volunteers

ZERO SUICIDE ALLIANCE (ZSA):

The ZSA is concerned with improving support for people contemplating suicide by raising awareness of, and promoting, FREE suicide prevention training which is accessible to all

DUDLEY MIND:

Tel: 01384 442938: Provides support for people struggling with their wellbeing in the Dudley Community. Mental health support, awareness, training and more

CHILD BEREAVEMENT UK:

Tel: 0800 02 888 40: Provides support for all families who have lost a child or have a bereaved child. Phone lines are open 9-5pm (except bank holidays). Live chat available via the website 9am-5pm. Email: support@childbereavementuk.org