‘We Are Saving Lives Everyday’ Voice of the VCSE Sector in Suicide Prevention: A roundtable discussion ….

Yesterday, the Jewish Leadership Council, Jami and Chair of the Suicide and Self Harm APPG Liz Twist MP arranged for a roundtable focused on suicide prevention to take place at the Head Room café in Golders Green. 

‘We Are Saving Lives Everyday’ was an event designed to bring together Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprise organisations who work on suicide prevention to discuss how they are an effective part of the community pathway in enabling people with suicidal thoughts and behaviours to turn away from suicide. It also sought to connect the sector with policy makers in Westminster and beyond. 

Jami, as a JLC member and Jewish communal organisation articulated that Within a community such as the Jewish community any suicide death can have a significant ‘ripple effect’ in terms of other people’s mental health being impacted by the loss and people with existing thoughts of suicide being triggered by the news.  

Attendees included representatives of Mind and Samaritans, Youth Mental Health Partnership, Public Health experts, charities like The Listening Place, Grassroots and Thrive London and MPs Charlotte Nichols and Dean Russell. Luciana Berger, a former MP, current JLC Vice-President and veteran mental health campaigner also participated. Also providing powerful contributions were individuals who had experienced suicidal ideation and whom Jami has supported.  

The idea came following a meeting between Jami and Liz Twist at Head Room which it was agreed would be the ideal convening location for a focused discussion on the aspect of mental health which the APPG Liz chairs is focused. 

The discussion, co-chaired by Liz Twist MP and Phillipa Carr, Jami’s Education Manager and Suicide Prevention Lead, included presentations by Jami and Public Health Barnet, discussion of the role of VCSE sector, how organisations around the table can better collaborate and what would be useful to see from the governments delayed Suicide prevention strategy. 

Quotes

“Today has been about sharing knowledge, sharing experience and learning from each other. And, most of all, improving things for people and reducing suicides as well. I’ve been absolutely blown away by all the organisations that have been here. It’s so important to show what we’re doing to help people. I think that Jami are doing an absolutely magnificent job in reaching out to the community and providing a whole range of services. It’s so important to be able to form those working connections.” 

·       Liz Twist MP, Chair of Suicide and Self Harm Prevention APPG 

“Suicide affects so many people and it is important that leaders in the field can come together to share best practice. I am proud that the JLC was able to facilitate this meeting and bring together our member Jami with leading bodies in the wider sector together with politicians all working in this area.”

·       Claudia Mendoza, JLC Co-CEO and Coordinator of Youth Mental Health Network 

“Our meeting with the APPG on self-harm and suicide prevention, local and national charities and MPs demonstrated the vital role the VCSE sector plays in saving lives. Charities based in the community have a specific sensitivity and understanding of the people they work with. As a sector, we provide services that others cannot due to our creativity, flexibility and ability to put the people who work with us at the centre of everything we do.

“We looked at the need to launch Jami’s Jewish Community Suicide Prevention programme and work with stakeholders to provide faith and culturally nuanced training and support. Communities, charities and all colleagues together can make a huge difference to people going through such acutely painful times. We hope the announcement of the DHSE funding for the sector together with the new national suicide prevention strategy will help services sustain and grow their much-needed work.”

Philippa Carr, Jami’s Education Manager and Suicide Prevention Lead