Contributors for One Team Gov Suicide Prevention — Part 2
On 10 September, One Team Gov will be running an event on the theme of Suicide Prevention #OTGSP. In this post, we announce our second set of collaborators.
If you already know you want to sign up you can do so here:
A little about our Contributors
recently posted to announce our first set of contributors, and we’re thrilled follow up with the speakers that will be completing our line up for our Suicide prevention event #OTGSP for World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.We’ve tried to curate a line up that is diverse, to reflect the society that we live in. We hope that you learn more about suicide prevention and that this gives you an opportunity for reflection.
Please note: many of our speakers have ‘lived experience of suicide’ which is included within the descriptions offered below; if you feel that you might find this information upsetting, please consider whether you want to read on.
Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director, The Samaritans
The Samaritans have 67 years of suicide prevention experience and have provided a listening ear to millions. Jacqui will talk us through some of that experience, and about how COVID19 is affecting and influencing their work.
Samaritans offer support to those in need 24/7 and you’ll find out more below:
Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways, Office of Rail and Road Director of Safety
Ian has spearheaded the Million Hour challenge at the ORR, where colleagues will volunteer one million hours over the next 5 years in order to raise money for Samaritans as well as awareness of rail related suicide. Ian will talk about his experiences of working within the field.
Find out more about the Million Hour challenge below:
Emma Barrand, QES Software Solutions
Emma works for QES, who are developing tools for Real Time Suicide Surveillance and Safeguarding. She loves being part of a company that is able to make a real difference through information technology, to help safeguard children and vulnerable adults.
You can read more about the work of QES:
Ian Howley, Chief Executive, LGBT hero
Ian has spoken out about suicide within the LGBT+ community, the charity he is a part of saw a 44% increase in the numbers of people accessing suicide prevention information during lockdown, and, in a recent survey by the charity almost 4 in every 5 respondents said that their mental health had been negatively impacted by the coronavirus lockdown.
Ian will talk us through some of the key findings of that survey and how his charity are campaigning for better data.
Debbie Rogers, Founder, Sean’s Place
Debbie created Sean’s Place after losing her brother, Sean, in July 2019. She knew there was more that could be done to support men with their mental health so decided to do something about it.
Sean’s Place aims to improve mental health and well-being by working with men through sessions specifically identified to improve confidence and self-esteem whilst reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. Sessions are solution-focused and provide techniques that can be used at home, in the workplace and in the community.
The Sean’s Place team each have had their own journey with mental illness, which enables them to have a deeper understanding and empathy for those who are accessing Sean’s Place and helps to demonstrate their motto, “In This Together!”
Penny Fosten, Executive Lead, National Suicide Prevention Alliance
Penny has led the NSPA for over 2 years, in which time she has overseen the development and launch of their Resources Hub, grown organisational and individual membership by over 100% and worked with Public Health England to refresh their Suicide Prevention Planning Guidance for Local Authorities.
Before joining the NSPA Penny had ten years’ experience of working to improve well-being, including establishing a ‘reading for well-being’ programme in London — helping to reduce loneliness, build confidence and connection, and enhance people’s understanding of themselves and others. Penny has also spent five years volunteering within suicide prevention.
You can read more about the NSPA’s work:
To find out about our other contributors and for all of the information about the event, visit our bloggroll which links to all of the relevant information.
