NHS:

• If you you are thinking of ending your life or have seriously harmed yourself in some way, dial 999 and ask for the Ambulance Service or ask someone else to do this for you. Alternatively go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department.
   
• You can find your local Urgent Mental Health Line by visiting the NHS website. The First Response Service (FRS) puts you and your mental health first, providing a service seven days a week, 365 days a year.
  • If you're Devon based (excl Plymouth): Devon Partnership NHS Trust - 0808 196 8708. 
  • If you're Plymouth based: Livewell Southwest - 0800 923 9323. 
  • If you're Cornwall based: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - 0800 038 5300.
  • If you're Somerset based: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 0800 138 1692.

Free, 24/7 text/email/forum/call support:

• Samaritans: 24 hr helpline offering emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Helpline: 116 123 (free of charge from a landline or mobile) or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24hrs.
  
• SHOUT: text 85258 for 24/7 text support from a crisis volunteer.
• Breaking The Silence SF: a website for suicidal people and those in mental health crisis. They provide online forums, chat, information and support.

In an emergency: Call 999 or take them to A&E and stay with them until they are seen by a member of the mental health team.

• This leaflet provides information about what to do if you are worried about someone. This guidance was developed at the University of Exeter Medical School, in collaboration with The Alliance of Suicide Prevention Charities (TASC), and produced by Devon County Council.
• Remember – it is safe to talk about suicide with someone if they seem really down and you think they might be thinking about ending their life.

• You can find your local Urgent Mental Health Line by visiting the NHS website. The First Response Service (FRS) puts you and your mental health first, providing a service seven days a week, 365 days a year.
  • If you're Devon based (excl Plymouth): Devon Partnership NHS Trust - 0808 196 8708. 
  • If you're Plymouth based: Livewell Southwest - 0800 923 9323. 
  • If you're Cornwall based: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - 0800 038 5300.
  • If you're Somerset based: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 0800 138 1692.

If in doubt, follow the ALGEE steps:

• A – ASSESS for risk of suicide or harm. Call 999 if there is an immediate risk.
• L – LISTEN non-judgmentally. 
• G – GIVE information and encouragement. 
• E – ENCOURAGE professional help. 
• E – ENCOURAGE self help or other support.

As part of our commitment to raising awareness about suicide prevention, we encourage colleagues to take one of the following free online suicide awareness training courses.

The Zero Suicide Alliance offers training which aims to help people develop the skills to recognise someone who may be struggling, approach difficult conversations effectively and access further support. It will be a hugely valuable tool for individuals as well as family and friends who may be worried about them.

We recommend all colleagues undertake the full free training session online, which takes about 20 minutes. If you only have 5 minutes, there is an even shorter session you can undertake here. Anything we can do to prepare ourselves for a conversation about suicide is so helpful and potentially lifesaving.  

Real Talk About Suicide is an interactive film which helps guide the viewer, as they make choices to support someone with suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The film presents an unfolding conversation between two flatmates, Chris and Jason. The viewer is prompted to answer multiple-choice questions about the next steps Jason might take to help his friend. Guidance is offered, and key principles explained, with the aim of increasing the skills and confidence of the viewer in responding to people at risk of suicide, and to provide links to further sources of support.

The Real Talk Interactive Film - Grassroots Suicide Prevention

Losing a loved one, friend or colleague through suicide is incredibly hard. If this has happened to you, please don’t feel you have to suffer alone – there are organisations out there for you. Often survivors feel guilty, or even angry, and can be reluctant to talk about what has happened. If this is how you feel, remember you aren’t alone and - very sadly – there will be others who are experiencing similar thoughts to yours.

We really urge you to reach out and talk to those who can help you:

• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – support via email, their online forum, by phone or through local support groups.
• Pete’s Dragons – a Devon based support group which offers face to face appointments and phone support.
• Cruse Bereavement Care – Helpline 0808 808 1677 (open 7 days a week, hours across the day and evening). See the website for full details. Cruse online chat service is available Mon – Fri, 9am-9pm.

• Spectrum Life is our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a confidential, neutral service provided by an external company to support colleagues at the University. They provide free counselling for colleagues. 
• If you are experiencing anxiety or depression it can help to talk to your manager who can refer you to Occupational Health for support. Alternatively, you can make a self-referral direct to the Occupational Health Team. 
• The Access to Work Mental Health Support - a confidential service delivered by Remploy funded by the Department of Works and Pensions is available at no charge to any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work.
• NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)- an NHS support you can refer yourself directly to for talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies and guided self-help. 
• Taking good care of ourselves can really help us to stay mentally well. Take a look at the ‘Self-care and staying well’ section for resources and advice.