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This Month
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Hi folks, we hope you're well. This is the first of what will now be monthly installments of the Therapeutic Thread! The same great content, less emails in your inbox.
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September features World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th. This year's campaign is all about 'changing the narrative' on suicide and getting people talking about it. In this issue we hope to encourage just that, as well as to provide you with some essential resources you may not yet know about.
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We also have our regular features to keep you up to date on what's going on in the world of mental health, and any local wellbeing events coming up this month.
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Most people find it uncomfortable to talk about suicide and some resort to euphemisms like “ending it all” or “doing something silly”.
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There were 5,284 deaths by suicide in England in 2022, equating to around 15 per day. Suicidal thoughts and feelings are a response to unbearable suffering, and when they are acted on they also have a devastating impact on those left behind. So suicide is clearly not a “silly” matter and yet it remains one of the most difficult things to discuss.
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If you suspect that someone is feeling suicidal you might panic and find it hard to think straight, you might worry disproportionately about saying the wrong thing or making matters worse. And yet being willing and able to talk and listen with care and empathy is probably the most helpful thing you can do. So on World Suicide Prevention Day, take a moment to think about how to have these conversations so that you are better prepared if the time ever comes.
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In this newsletter there are plenty of links to resources that can help you to feel more confident talking about suicide. I would like to offer a few simple suggestions too, based on my work over the years with many people who have been suicidal:
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- If you suspect someone is having suicidal thoughts, ask: “Are you thinking about suicide?” or “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It can be better to ask direct questions rather than vague ones.
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- Listen without judgement. You don’t need to find an answer or even to completely understand why they feel the way they do. Listening to what they have to say will at least let them know you care and perhaps relieve some of the loneliness that usually goes hand-in-hand with feeling suicidal.
- Ask them if they have felt this way before and, if so, whether their feelings changed last time. Are they able to tell you about their reasons for wanting to die? It can be helpful to explore their reasons for living if they have lost sight of these.
- Encourage them to seek help that they are comfortable with, such as from a doctor or therapist, or support through a charity such as the Samaritans. And follow up on any commitments that you make, even if the person no longer seems to be feeling suicidal.
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Almost any response is better than saying “Don’t do anything silly”, and if it turns out that the person wasn’t feeling suicidal, you will have shown your willingness to talk about difficult things which is surely good for any relationship.
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The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. It includes features to create your own:
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- Safety plan
- LifeBox
- Wellness plan
- Reasons for living
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Under 35? PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to
the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health
and emotional wellbeing in young people.
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Call HopelineUK (open 24/7) on 0800 068 4141
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A suicide prevention charity on a mission to help people "end their misery, not their lives".
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Call 0800 58 58 58 or use their webchat service to connect with a trained voluntary worker.
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Or visit their website for resources, and guides to things like neurodiversity and helping loved ones who are feeling suicidal.
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The NHS's website full of resources and information on mental health and wellbeing. It includes steps to set up a Mind Plan, sign up for anxiety-easing emails straight to your inbox, and self-help CBT techniques, among others.
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If you are in crisis, you can call 999 or 111, which now has mental health support on hand.
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Mental Health in the News
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Events Calendar
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"This talk will teach you the complex interplay between the different regions of the brain that give rise to our emotional experiences. Learn more about the science behind how our emotions are formed, how they impact our daily lives and how we can use this knowledge to regulate our emotions better."
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Wednesday 18th September, 7pm.
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Brighthelm Centre, Brighton.
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"This webinar is aimed at starting the conversation around suicidal ideation with groups who often fall through the net of care, focusing on the at-risk communities of ex-offenders, women and people with autism."
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Tuesday 10th September, 12pm.
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"St Michael's Hospice Moonlight and Memories Walk is a sponsored 10k walk, by the light of the moon, remembering loved ones. The walk will take you by the light of the moon from St Michael's Hospice, along the seafront to Galley Hill and back again. At the Hospice you will be invited to place your illuminated lantern in the gardens and take time to pause, reflect and remember your loved ones."
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Saturday 14th September, 8pm.
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St Michael's Hospice, St Leonards-on-Sea.
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"Examining Whiteness is open to and welcomes Psychotherapists and Counsellors from all
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backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities who want to actively address the injustices and
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inequalities of racism through personal and collective work on white identity, power, privilege,
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Saturday 7th September, 10am.
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Cornerstone Community Centre, Hove.
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Follow us on Social Media
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See what we are discussing on our social media pages and join the conversation! On Instagram at the moment, we are starting to look at the things our therapists learn from their clients.
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Book your Initial Consultation
Hastings Therapy Centre and Brighton Therapy Centre have vacancies for therapy throughout the week. We offer individual, relationship and group therapies.
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We also have a number of low-cost appointments available.
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Book your consultation now:
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Our Charitable Work
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All BTC/HTC Practitioners commit at least 25% of their time to the provision of low-cost and no-cost therapy. Any surplus generated from our mainstream work is ploughed back into our charitable services. You can help someone in your community access the support they need by contributing using the button below.
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Can't donate? Spread the word! If you're enjoying our newsletter, send it to your friends and get them to subscribe. Or if you know someone who might be looking to start therapy, send them our way.
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" I felt listened to and understood and that my therapist was working as hard as she could to understand how I worked and what would be most helpful for me, rather than trying to impose anything on me. The therapy helped me through a very dark period with my mental and physical health and I feel like I made some good progress on the issues I came for help with."
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Have Your Say
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Let us know what you would like to see in our Newsletter!
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Meet our Practitioners
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Browse the practitioners who offer therapeutic services from a range of modalities and specialities
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Meet our Employed Team
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Meet the friendly team behind BTC and HTC who will help you find the help you may need
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Meet our Trustees
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Meet our trustees who offer their valued experience and knowledge to support our charity
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2nd Floor, 17 Havelock Road
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Charity Number: 1150032 | Company Number: 07791021
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