Today September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day this year’s theme is to Change the Narrative and call to action “Start the Conversation”. The aim of the theme is to raise awareness about the importance of changing the narrative surrounding suicide and transforming how we perceive this complex issue.
Trigger warning – Suicide and Self-harm.
Today, 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is “Change the Narrative” and the call to action is “Start the Conversation.” The theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of changing the narrative surrounding suicide and transforming how we perceive this complex issue.
Suicide and self-harm is an area of mental health that statistically heavily affects students (especially male students). There remains this stigma surrounding mental health as a whole but especially this area that people should not talk about. However, IT IS MORE THAN OKAY TO TALK and this year's theme for World Suicide Prevention Day highlights this perfectly.
Learn more:
If this is an area that you would like to learn about ‘Mind’ is a great place to start. They have a plethora of information surrounding specific mental health conditions.
Self-Harm - https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/feelings-and-experiences/coping-with-self-harm/#WhatIsSelfHarm
Suicide - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/helping-yourself-now/
Support links:
Internal –
The Wellbeing team is there to support all students in their general wellbeing. They're a friendly, approachable team that triages wellbeing queries and provides non-clinical advice and guidance to students. You can contact Wellbeing through their email: wellbeing@royalholloway.ac.uk or during term time they host daily online drop-ins from 11am - 2pm. https://zoom.us/j/91883332882?pwd=RzArOTBiVjFEUGtUd0xPbEcwUm1yZz09#success
The Counselling and Mental Health team are there to support you with your personal, emotional and mental wellbeing with the aim of helping you achieve the best you can in your academic studies and social experiences. You can contact the Counselling and Mental Health team through their email: counselling@royalholloway.ac.uk.
External –
You can always call 999 if you are worried about yourself or others.
PAPYRUS -
PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. They believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide.
Contact:
Phone - 0800 068 4141
Email - pat@papyrus-uk.org
Text - 88247
Website- https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Nightline -
Nightline offers a unique listening service, providing emotional support and information to students across the country. It’s the only service of its kind dedicated to students in higher and further education. Run by students, their listening volunteers ensure every student has the opportunity to talk about their feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
Contact:
London Nightline (where Royal Holloway sits) reopens on the 16th of September and runs throughout term time.
Phone - 0207 631 0101
Live Chat - https://portal.nightline.ac.uk/im/london-IM
Website - https://nightline.ac.uk/
Samaritans
Free, Confidential Support — you can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you no matter how big or small the issue is. They're there to help you work through what's on your mind.
Contact:
Call (anytime day and night) – 116 123
Email – jo@samaritans.org
Website - https://www.samaritans.org/