A new service has launched to support local people who have been bereaved by suicide across Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.
The new service, which officially launched in May 2020, has been launched by local mental health charities Hull and East Yorkshire Mind and North East Lincolnshire Mind. It offers free emotional and practical support to individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
There were 6,507 registered suicides in the UK in 2018 - which amounts to one death by suicide every 80 minutes. Yorkshire and Humber had some of the highest rates of suicide in England in 2018.
Hull and East Yorkshire Mind and North East Lincolnshire Mind are now offering a range of support such as talking with an experienced bereavement worker, as well as support creating memory boxes, funeral planning, attending inquests as well as help with financial matters. The support will be tailored to meet the needs of each individual at this difficult time in their lives.
The service, together for those bereaved by suicide – has been commissioned for use in Hull, East Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire by the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership.
The Partnership is made up of NHS organisations, local councils, health and care providers and voluntary and community organisations, which are working together to improve health and care across Humber, Coast and Vale – an area which includes the cities of Hull and York and large rural areas across East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Emma Dallimore, Chief Executive at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind and North East Lincolnshire Mind said: “It’s great to be working with Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership on this crucial service. We know that bereavement can have a huge impact on an individual’s mental health and wellbeing, but we want to remind people that we are here for them at this difficult time in their life. We are available today, tomorrow and in the future.
“By working together with Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership, we can ensure that local people get the support they need and deserve.”
Jo Kent, Suicide Prevention Programme Lead at Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership said: “Every death by suicide is both an individual tragedy and a loss to society. By working with our partners at Hull and East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire Mind, we can be there for people when they need us most. By working with organisations such as Mind, we can also work together to prevent further suicides from happening in our communities.”
If you would like more information, please call Hull and East Yorkshire Mind on Freephone 0800 1380990, local number 01482 240133 (between 8am – 8pm 7 days a week) or email info@heymind.org.uk. You can also text them on 07520633477.
The introduction of the suicide bereavement service in the Humber area means there is now suicide bereavement support in all areas of Humber, Coast and Vale – with a similar service already established in North Yorkshire. The MIRT (major incident response team) service has been running in North Yorkshire for over 3 years. For more information, contact them by phone on 07974 745194 (24hr).
You can also take free suicide prevention training as part of Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership’s #TalkSuicide campaign. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma around talking about suicide by raising awareness in our communities and encouraging people to complete free training. For more information, or to take the training, please visit www.talksuicide.co.uk
