COPEScotland Latest News
Every life does matter, your life matters
The first and most important thing to start this blog with is if you are reading this and thinking of suicide, then please, talk to someone now. These are some numbers which may be useful
Useful numbers
- Alcoholics anonymous T: 0800 9177 650
- SOBS (Bereaved by Suicide) T: 0300 111 5065
- Breathing Space T: 0800 83 85 87
- Blue Cross for Pets (Support following the death of a pet) T: 0800 096 6606
- Campaign Against Living Miserably CALM (Men) T: 0800 585858 5pm-midnight
- Childline T: 0800 1111
- Child Bereavement UK T: 0141 352 9995
- Domestic abuse and forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234
- Families affected by Murder and Suicide (FAMS) T: 07736 326 062
- Gamblers Anonymous Scotland T: 0370 050 8881
- Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
- Hopeline UK (people under 35) T: 0800 068 41 41
- LGBT Helpline T: 0300 123 2523
- LGBT Youth Text: 07786 202 370
- The Lullaby Trust T: 0808 802 6868 Bereavement support/ following the death of a baby or young child
- NAT: 0300 999 1212
- NHS 24 T: 111
- One parent Families Scotland Helpline: 0808 801 0323
- Over Eaters Anonymous
- Parent line T: 08000 28 22 33
- The Samaritans Free Phone Tel: 116 123
- Silverline (older people) T: 0800 4 70 80 90
- Shelter T: 0808 800 4444
- Shout (an affiliate of crisis text line) Text: SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer.
- The Spark Relationship Counselling and Support T:0808 802 0050
- Universal Credit Helpline: 0808 169 9901
- Victim Support T: 0345 603 9213
Speak to your GP about Mental Health Services near you. There are people who can help, sometimes it does take time to find the help which works best for you, but don't give up, you are important and your life matters. Starting with a helpline can be one step in the direction of a better tomorrow……………….
There can be many reasons why someone may think about suicide, or, a combination of factors which when put together make life seem too much to bear. Sometimes we know we need help, but don't know how to ask for it, other times we don't ask because we don't want to be a bother to others, or we worry we may feel judged, or we don't think anyone will listen, or we tried before to talk to someone and it didn't make any difference
There can be many reasons why someone may think about suicide, or, a combination of factors which when put together make life seem too much to bear. Sometimes we know we need help, but don't know how to ask for it, other times we don't ask because we don't want to be a bother to others, or we worry we may feel judged, or we don't think anyone will listen, or we tried before to talk to someone and it didn't make any difference
Creating a suicide safer country is about how we build connections between each other and how we feel more comfortable talking about suicide. If early on in our thoughts of suicide, we were able to say, 'I am thinking about killing myself' and we felt someone listened to why we felt that way, didn't jump in with a solution, didn't recoil and look panicked, simply offered compassion and invited us to talk about what was happening that made us think of suicide, then this could help us remember why we also wanted to live
There are many suicide awareness programmes and training:
- The Zero Suicide Alliance have a website with online training
- SafeTALK part of the LivingWorks suicide awareness training programmes is a half-day workshop which enables participants to recognise when someone may be having thoughts of suicide, ask the suicide question, listen and if needs link to an ASIST trained helper or another care provider https://www.livingworks.net/safetalk
- ASIST is part of the LivingWorks suicide awareness training programmes is a two-day workshop which enables participants to recognise when someone may be having thoughts of suicide, ask the suicide question, listen and help the person contract a safe plan https://www.livingworks.net/asist
We would also like to share and thank Health Scotland for sharing these materials as part of Suicide Prevention week
Reaching out to someone with compassion, and learning compassion for ourselves can go a long way to helping save a life, maybe even our own. Being connected and able to share with others how we feel and be accepted and not judged is something we can all learn to do. Sometimes it just needs to start with a kinder conversation reaching out to someone and asking,
' how are you?' and meaning it.
' how are you?' and meaning it.
The most effective suicide prevention is if we can find ways together to reduce the risks of people thinking about it in the first place, and if they do, knowing they can speak to someone about it, that person maybe you.
Supporting someone who is feeling or thinking they want to die can also impact on our wellbeing, so as well as being compassionate to others, take time to look after you. it is easier to have compassion for others when we have compassion for ourselves.
Related Posts
Useful/Emergency Contacts
- Silverline 0800 4 70 80 90
- Childeline 0800 1111
- ParentLine 08000 28 22 33
- Samaritans 116 123
- Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
- NHS 111
- Gamblers anonymous 0370 050 8881
- Narcotics anonymous 0300 999 1212
- Alcoholics anonymous 0800 9177 6506
- CALM 0800 58 58 58