There is a wide range of information available on our Trust website aims to provide support, information and signposting to help members of the public who visit our website.

The latest Suicide Prevention bulletin can now be viewed at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/bulletins/suicide-prevention/

This webpage features key links and emerging reports about suicide prevention.

In this issue:                       

  • Network-based prediction of the disclosure of ideation about self-harm and suicide in online counseling sessions
  • Non-suicidal self-injury and emotional burden among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional online survey
  • Suicidal ideation among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: prevalence and associated factors
  • Help for Heroes and ZSA launch veteran suicide awareness training
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if there are any other colleagues who you think might benefit from receiving this bulletin

 

Suicide Risk in Spring 

The Safe from Suicide Team would like to make colleagues aware of the potential increase in risk of suicide during the spring period. This is often reported nationally and internationally and will not affect all patients, but consideration needs to be given to all service users/patients during this known increased risk period. The current social and economic pressures associated with increased food and fuel prices, along with continuing covid outbreaks may also increase risks this year.

The embedded awareness sheet (below) has been developed to provide more information around this potential increased risk, and some suggestions of what staff can do, or consider as a result.  

Spring Suicide Awareness

Curing Powder/Salts (Sodium Nitrite)

Curing powder is widely available on the internet for purchase and can be deadly if ingested in large amounts.  The main ingredient is salt (Sodium Nitrite), along with other substances which may cause harm. 

Recently increased consumption of this substance has been linked to suicides, as the substance lowers the ability of the red blood cells to move oxygen around the body.  This can affect the ability to breathe, which can cause collapse.

If ingestion of this substance is suspected, emergency services should be contacted on 999 for treatment to be provided.

We would also recommend not drawing attention to this by publicising to a those who maybe at risk.

There is a Safe from Suicide drop-in held once a month (on the second Tuesday of the month, 10am to 12.30pm) that you can attend if you have any queries about the work of the Safe from Suicide Team (SfST), the trust suicide prevention priorities, questions about eRisk, any general queries, or if you wish to discuss, as a team or individually, any specific patient risk in relation to suicide.  If you would like to attend please just Click here to join the meeting on any of the dates you would like to attend.  If you are having trouble joining please e-mail Safefrom.Suicide@merseycare.nhs.uk.

The next dates for the drop-in are:

9 April 2024 – 10 – 12.30pm

14 May 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm 

11 June 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

9 July 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

13 August 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

10 September 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

8 October 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

12 November 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

10 December 2024 - 10 - 12.30pm

The staff wellbeing hub is the Trust's home for all wellbeing information to support staff. The hub is part of our Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service's wellbeing offer.

A programme of work is currently being developed to enhance the support for staff following an incident, more information will follow. 

There are also external agencies that can offer support to staff, specifically if they are affected by suicide: 

AMPARO  offers confidential, practical and emotional support to anyone affected by suicide. Support can be provided one-to-one, to family groups and to groups of colleagues or peers. The support offered includes: 

  • Help dealing with the police and the coroner.

  • Helping with media enquiries.

  • Help preparing for and attending the inquest.

  • Helping people to access local support services.

You can download an A4, PDF poster, promoting AMPARO's service here.  People can contact Amparo by calling 0330 088 9255, emailing amparo.service@listening-ear.co.uk, or completing the form on the website

PAPYRUS offers a professionals debrief service to support frontline workers, GPs, teachers, counsellors, police, first responders and other professionals who have had an encounter with suicide and would like to talk it through with a trained professional.

Call 0800 068 4141 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org