Devon Wellbeing Hub – support for teams impacted by suicide

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in Mental health, News, Recovery and wellbeing on 5th September, 2023

This Sunday (10 September) is World Suicide Prevention Day – a time when organisations and communities come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide. Suicide is preventable, it’s not inevitable.

At the Devon Wellbeing Hub, we can provide support for teams who have been impacted by suicide. Our reflective practice sessions give teams a chance to come together and speak about their experiences and support each other during difficult times, as well as providing an opportunity to think about how to move forward together. The group is not about providing therapy, but to help facilitate a discussion about people’s experiences in a safe and contained space.

Jody Merelle, a Psychotherapist at the Hub, said: “The subject of suicide is always an emotive one. Suffering the loss of someone through suicide includes the sadness involved in any bereavement but can often also involve feelings of guilt, regret and helplessness. For those struggling with suicidal thoughts themselves life can feel unbearable. People often describe feeling stuck and experiencing a lack of hope for the future.

“At the Hub we are here to support those who have been bereaved through suicide as well as giving hope to those who have experienced suicidal thoughts themselves. I personally know from lived experience that the most valuable thing for anyone feeling suicidal is a feeling of genuine hope for the future. We will do our best to help generate that in a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental way.”

Further support:

First Response Service: A 24/7 crisis line providing urgent mental health support. Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
We have a list of crisis support services on the ‘useful resources’ section of our website
Pete’s Dragons offer support if you experience suicide amongst the people you are working with
The Samaritans have some useful advice on how to start a conversation with someone who may be thinking about suicide.

Get in touch:

If you work in healthcare, social care or the police in Devon and lead a team who would benefit from support, please get in touch by calling 0300 303 5455 or email dpt.devonwellbeing@nhs.net, mentioning ‘team support’. If you are looking for 1:1 support, you can fill out the simple referral form on the Devon Wellbeing Hub website.

Please note, the Devon Wellbeing Hub is not an urgent care service. If you feel you are in a mental health crisis and need an urgent response please contact the First Response Service, your GP, NHS 111 or Mental Health Matters. If at immediate risk of harm call 999.

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Devon Wellbeing Hub – support for teams impacted by suicide

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