Meet the man tasked with reducing suicide levels in York

THE job title alone sounds daunting, nevermind the challenges ahead.

But Andy Chapman - York’s newly appointed suicide prevention lead – is optimistic about reducing suicide rates in a city where the number of people taking their own lives has become a growing concern.

In York, 74 people are recorded as taking their own lives between 2013 and 2015, which includes deaths in which the intent couldn't be proved. And at the University of York, five students are reported to have taken their own lives in a year, as a study of student mental health showed that half of all ambulance call outs to the campus at the start of this year were for incidents of self-harm or suicide attempts.

For Andy, a retired North Yorkshire Police officer of 30 years, who has negotiated at length with people planning to take their own lives, the new role is a cause very close to his heart.

"I consider I'm affected by suicide," he said, "I'm not personally bereaved but I have found people who have taken their own lives, I have dealt with people in crisis who have been contemplating taking their own lives and I have engaged with families who have lost loved ones. I recognised from very early in my career the devastating effect suicide has on the individual, families and communities.”

With 14 deaths per 100,000 of the population (the national average is ten), York has the highest rate of suicides among places of a similar economic background in England, and is sixth highest in the north, after Middlesbrough, Blackpool, County Durham, Rotherham and Darlington.

Having worked to examine suicides in North Yorkshire, Andy is now leading a York task group – with participants including North Yorkshire Police, the NHS, British Transport Police and the Samaritans.

In York, many of those who take their own lives are middle aged men in their late 30s to early 50s, but suicide can affect anyone of any age, Andy emphasises.

Speaking in the offices of his new role with the public health team at City of York Council, he said: " I see my role as raising awareness that it isn't something that happens to other people, families or communities. It can happen to anyone and the impact is absolutely devastating.

"People assume they're okay driving with their mobile phone because adverse consequences are something that happen to someone else, until the day it happens to them and then it's life changing.

"There are those people who are high risk who have been in touch with services for years and then there are people who are not known at all to services."

Why levels are high in York isn’t known for sure, he said, but a common theme can be that many people feel unsupported.

That's why it's so important people start talking about what can seem a taboo subject without being misunderstood or dismissed, he said.

"Until we are talking about suicide openly and non-judgmentally we are never really going to improve the situation," he said.

"People don't tend to talk about issues. Everyone of us is an iceberg, everyone of us has different faces for our colleagues and friends than we actually are inside. Many people have issues they are trying to deal with themselves and often lose perspective out of anxiety or pressure. The pattern is similar nationally, if people talk about issues to someone they trust and can be offered non-judgemental support, that can be a really simple way to manage those feelings of despondency or lack of control."

In his experience, those who take their own lives have often had had more than one blow. They might be dealing with a crisis or an experience in the past. “Every suicide is different, they all have a journey and they may have been affected by abuse in childhood, bereavement...We know loneliness and isolation can be a big factor, we know that shame in some cases can cause distress and emotional turmoil.

"Mental ill health plays a part as do other things such as abuse and lots of different issues which can lead on the path towards suicide.”

Two months into the job, there are already many practical opportunities he can see to help people. Courses are being offered to train people in York in suicide intervention or ‘suicide alertness’. Work has been carried out to reduce ‘access to the means of suicide’ – such as limiting sale of drugs. Support for those bereaved by suicide – and therefore more vulnerable to suicide themselves – has also been somewhat improved.

“People affected may still be affected,” he said, “Time is not necessarily a healer in relation to suicide. For many people, losing someone through suicide is enduring."

And there’s much more work that can be done, such as improving mental health in vulnerable groups of people such as middle aged men who may not talk about their problems.

For people who may feel suicidal, he urges them to hold on and tell someone you trust, it could be your GP, or call the NHS on 111.

“Stay safe, put the decision off that day,” he said.

"Don't feel this is unique, that they are odd in any way. This is something that affects a lot of people."

And his general advice to everyone is simply to listen to what someone may be trying to say.

"I have spoken to young people who felt they have no alternative, that suicide was the only way out of the pain,” he said, “Often people would simply say to me 'thanks for listening'.

"I would often talk to people in crisis who would tell me in great detail about their stresses and difficulties and simply given the opportunity to talk and not be judged, allowing them to express themselves often meant that they would come safely out of that particular incident and regain a sense of perspective, and I was often thanked by people for listening. I didn't do anything, all I did was listen. I didn't advise I didn't flatter. I simply listened, which is the key.

“We need to get people talking about it and aware of what services are out there.

"I'm convinced we will find a solution."

Contacts:

- York’s mental health crisis service, run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is open 24/7, and can be contacted on 01904 610 700

- If you need someone to talk to, York Samaritans can be reached on 01904 655888 or Freephone 116123.

- The Sane Helpline is open every day from 6pm to 11pm on 0300 304 7000

- York Mind, an independent provider of mental health services to help individuals as they recover from a variety of mental health conditions, can be reached on 01904 643364.

- CALM (Campaign against living miserably), provides listening services, information and support for men at risk of suicide. They can be reached on 0800 58 58 58

- Cruse Bereavement Care is a charity providing information and support after someone you know has died. Contact them on 0844 477 9400

- Papyrus HOPEline provides information and support for anyone under 35 who is struggling with suicidal feelings and self-harm. They can be contacted on 0800 068 4141.