Head Space at Head Room: communal groups hold suicide prevention roundtable

Leading communal organisations held a group discussion on suicide prevention at the Head Room cafe in Golders Green this week.

The ‘We Are Saving Lives Everyday’ roundtable included The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), Jami and chair of the suicide and self harm All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Liz Twist MP.

It brought together voluntary, charity and social enterprise organisations who work on suicide prevention and sought to connect the sector with policy makers in Westminster.

Jami, as both a JLC member and Jewish communal organisation stressed that within 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 and MPs Charlotte Nichols and Dean Russell.

Luciana Berger, a former MP, current JLC vice-president and veteran mental health campaigner also participated.

Liz Twist MP, Chair of Suicide and Self Harm Prevention APPG said: “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 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.”

Claudia Mendoza, JLC co-CEO and coordinator of Youth Mental Health Network said: “Suicide affects so many people and it is important that leaders in the field can come together to share best practice.”

Philippa Carr, Jami’s education manager and suicide prevention lead said: “Charities based in the community have a specific sensitivity and understanding of the people they work with. 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 (Department of Health and Social Care) funding for the sector together with the new national suicide prevention strategy will help services sustain and grow their much-needed work.”