As Suicide Rates Hit 25 Year High, Suicide Prevention Charity Asks Men: "Do You Have a Plan?"
Suicide prevention charity James’ Place is urging men in the North East who have made a plan to end their life to seek help as soon as possible.
James’ Place offers free, life-saving treatment to men in suicidal crisis at their centre on Summerhill Street in Newcastle, as well as at centres in Liverpool and London and has helped over 2,300 men across the country to date.
Men who receive therapy at James’ Place are in suicidal crisis largely driven by life events, such as a relationship breakdown, financial problems, or bereavement. They have reached a point where they see suicide as the answer to their problems. They are experiencing intense and distressing suicidal thoughts and have often made a plan to end their life, or already made a suicide attempt.
John Younger, Head of Centre at James’ Place Newcastle said: “We want to let men in the North East know that if you’ve made a plan to end your life, have made a recent suicide attempt, or are experiencing intense and distressing suicidal thoughts, reach out to us and we can help you make a different plan.
It may seem overwhelming to reach out and tell someone what is going on, but please rest assured that many people have felt how you feel now and have come through their crisis. What you are feeling at the moment won’t always hold this much power over your life and you can overcome these feelings with the right help.
If you are worried about someone else, don’t be afraid to ask them if they have made a plan to end their life. You won’t put the idea in their head. If they say yes, you can look for help for them on our website jamesplace.org.uk/plan, call 111, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, or take them to A&E or your nearest walk-in centre.”
Men in suicidal crisis can contact James’ Place themselves or be referred to the centre by a professional including those working in health and community services, or by a friend or family member.
The centre has no waiting list and will typically see men for an initial assessment within two working days. Following assessment, men receive around six to eight face-to-face sessions of talking therapy with a trained professional therapist in a safe, friendly, non-clinical environment. James’ Place works alongside the NHS and other local support services, taking on clinical responsibility for the men they treat.
31 year old Jack reached out to James’ Place for help earlier this year. He said: “I had a terrible start to 2024, with various family issues going on, and I’d started to think about ending my life, I just was losing the will to live. I remember being at work on a course and we all went round the room and said how we were feeling out of ten – and I was a three which shocked everyone as I come across as a quite a happy go lucky kind of guy. I saw a news story about James’ Place opening in Newcastle and thought I would give it a try as I had nothing to lose. I filled in a form online and went for my first appointment a couple of days later. Everyone at the centre was so kind, and I had an instant connection with my therapist, she was amazing and so empathetic. I felt safe to talk about what I was feeling. The therapy was just really tailored to me and where I was in my life. We worked through why I was suicidal, we talked about my disability and how I’ve been losing my sight since I was a child, and what part that had played in my crisis. I learnt coping skills, such as replacing a bad memory with a good one when it pops up in my brain, and she really helped me to understand I don’t have to be perfect. I’ve overcome some of the feelings of self-loathing I had and learnt to be kinder to myself. Help is out there and it can make a real difference to your life.”
The centre is open Monday-Friday 9.30-5.30 by appointment only. To access support from James’ Place, make a referral or find out more visit www.jamesplace.org.uk.
