Suicide Prevention Summit – January 2020
December 21, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Please note: this item was originally published in December 2019. Thank you to everyone that attended the Summit. To keep up to date with work in this area, and outcomes from the Summit, click here.
[Content note; this news post deals with the topic of suicide]
BIMHN are supporting an event taking place this coming January 2020, bringing people, professionals, and those with lived experience of mental health together to agree a clear call-to-action on working together to prevent suicide across the local area of Bristol, as well as South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
The Suicide Prevention Summit takes place on Monday 13 January 2020 at Bristol City Hall. The event will consider the latest research into suicide prevention, work happening nationally, and will focus on initiatives and stories by people in the local area. We will also be inviting attendees to share their experiences and ideas about suicide prevention, exploring the role that communities should be playing in this work going forwards.
The summit will be lead and facilitated with those with lived experience of mental health, mental health professionals, and those with personal experience of suicide and bereavement by suicide. Because of the range of individuals and organisations expected to attend, spaces are limited. Please click here to book an individual free place.
The Summit is the final keynote event of Shine On, our Suicide Prevention campaign.
Please note: the BIMHN committee have decided to defer January’s BIMHN Monthly Members Meeting so that members can attend the summit. As a result, the scheduled meeting between 12:30 – 15:00 at St James Priory, Bristol City Centre, will not take place.
December 21, 2019 at 12:07 pm | News | No comment
Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund – Second Round of Funding
December 6, 2019 at 5:29 pm
BIMHN is proud to be supporting Shine On, a campaign all about working together to prevent suicide. Back in September, ahead of the launch of the campaign, the Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund was launched.
The Fund provides funding to support local organisations deliver their own initiative to reduce suicide in their local area. Many of the initiatives funded were included in the Shine On event programme.
We are delighted to share that the fund has re-opened for a second round. For more information and details on how to apply, click here.
You can also read more about some of the funded activities and events that have already taken place on the Shine On website here.
December 6, 2019 at 5:29 pm | News, Opportunities | No comment
BIMHN Member Attends Shared Learning Day on Suicide Prevention
October 18, 2019 at 12:22 pm
The Bristol Independent Mental Health Network (BIMHN) is actively involved with suicide prevention work taking place locally. Two of our members sit on the local Suicide Prevention Transformation Fund Working Group, which oversees the use of a portion of money given by NHS England to address the relatively high suicide rate in the local area. This group oversees initiatives such as the Hope Project, which aims to help men at risk of self-harm or suicide.
Additionally, BIMHN is supporting a wide-ranging campaign taking place later this year that will raise awareness and educate on suicide and self-harm. Watch this space for more details, to be announced soon!
Recently, Francesco, one of our members, attended the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH)’s recent learning day in London. These learning days are known as ‘Learning Sets’.
These sessions are an opportunity for healthcare organisations to provide updates on various suicide prevention initiatives taking place up and down the country, with an emphasis on shared learning, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of lives lost to suicide nationally.
You can read Francesco’s report of the session here.
October 18, 2019 at 12:22 pm | News | No comment
New Suicide Prevention Innovation Grant Launched!
September 23, 2019 at 10:43 pm
This news item was originally posted in October 2019. Since then, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Shine On campaign and the completion of a number of initiatives funded by the Suicide Prevention Innovation Fund, with more to come in the coming months. To stay up to date, visit the Shine On website!
Content note; please note that this piece contains discussions of suicide and self-harm.
As part of a suicide prevention campaign later this year, a fund has been launched to support local groups whose work helps to prevent suicide and self-harm across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
In particular, we are looking for imaginative and innovative projects which aim to reduce the numbers of suicides in:
- middle aged men
- men and women aged 16-25
- BAME communities
- LGBTQ+ communities
- Disabled communities
This innovation grant is available to support new or emerging projects. They can benefit from a small pot of funding that is intended to support initiatives that prevent suicides and reduce self-harm in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
Applicants can apply for one-off funding grants of up to £250 towards their project (or up to £500 where it is across BNSSG). There is a total funding pot of £4,500 available.
How do I apply and when is the closing date?
Applications for the fund will close on Friday 18 October 2019 and the application form can be found here. Completed application forms need to be submitted to: engagement[@]imhn.org (removing the brackets from that email address).
Please note that applications will be considered in the order that they are received; please therefore send your application in as soon as you can, as interest is high.
Tom Renhard, CEO of the Independent Mental Health Network, said:
“We are really pleased to be supporting local efforts by groups that are leading the fight to prevent suicide and self-harm across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, where we know a small amount of seed funding can make a bigger difference to people who know their communities well and what is needed.
“I am hopeful that as part of a wider campaign launching later this year, we will be able to enable more initiatives to flourish and support a wider regional ambition to reduce the number of people taking their own lives. One life lost is one too many, and there is plenty for us all to do to ensure people know there is support available out there.
“If you are interested in getting involved in the campaign that will launch in November, do send an email to .”
Notes to editors:
Who are IMHN?
The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) represents a diverse community of past, current and future users of mental health services, as well as those with lived experience of mental health.
By working together, we believe that we can be a force for positive change in the way that mental health is treated, perceived, and recognised.
Who are the people behind the fund?
The Fund is supported by the Suicide Prevention Transformation Working Group that brings together organisations from across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The organisations include:
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG)
- Community Access Support Service (CASS)
- Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN)
- North Somerset Council
- Public Health England
- Second Step
- South Gloucestershire Council
- University of Bristol
- University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
September 23, 2019 at 10:43 pm | News | No comment