My Suicide Intervention Plan & Fund
Donation protected
I am a 44 year old passionate, creative, strong-willed, funny, overweight, moody (sometimes depressed) mother of three and floristry lecturer........with a lovely boyfriend!
Last year in a bid to sort myself out physically I started running and entered a number of races. The knock on effect of pushing myself out of this particular comfort zone was incredible. I managed to lose weight, I managed to run 10k without stopping and even better I managed to raise £710 for Mind, the mental health charity. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety this really boosted my self-esteem and both my physical and mental health improved.
Unfortunately, as those with poor mental health will know, it tends to be two steps forward and one step back! Exactly one year later, the weight is back on and the running has fizzled out.....
It has been a really difficult year so far for many that I know. On the 10th March this year a very close friend of my daughter's took his own life at the age of 19. Jason Pettey was so caring, so kind and so supportive to all his friends; a true gentleman. It was the hardest thing ever watching my daughter receive this devastating news and not a day passes when he is not mentioned in our house......he will never be forgotten.
It was at this point I decided I must do more to try and help those that may be at risk of suicide. I believe we could ALL do more, so after much research I made my first contact with Grassroots Suicide Prevention in Brighton. This charity is one that offers training in suicide intervention and first aid ranging from an afternoon course in how to spot someone at risk and direct them to those that can help, through to actually training to train others in suicide first aid and intervention skills. I decided this was my aim and I needed to save up my pennies! £68 for the first course, £239 for the second and a further £2500 for the ultimate five day residential course that would qualify me to deliver these life-saving workshops to others.
Three short months after Jason's death I went in to work one morning only to be given the news that one of our students had also taken her life the day before. Molly Green was 19 years old too. A beautiful, talented and successful young lady who had achieved so much already in her short life and yet clearly to all who knew her had the potential to achieve so much more.
Not a day goes by now where I do not think of Jason and Molly. I wish more than anything they were still with us, that something could have been done. In their memory I want to do all I can for anyone else who may be in their position in the future as sadly I know there are many.
On 23rd July I attended my first workshop. SafeTALK is the first step and has educated me in how to spot those at risk of suicide, how to directly approach, talk and listen to them, then how and where to direct them on to to keep safe.
In October this year I will be attending the ASIST course (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). This two day workshop will teach me the most up-to-date suicide intervention and mental first aid skills.
The next part is where it gets tricky and YOU come in! The final step in my plan is to attend the five day residential course which will train me to train others and deliver ASIST workshops; however to do so I need to find £2500!
I have paid for a charity place to run this year's Great North Run and in the first instance will be looking to raise £300 for Mind. My hope is that any money over this amount will then be put towards the £2500 training for trainers course fee. www.livingworks.net/programs/asist-for-trainers/
Please help me to help others ....... any donations will be fantastic and shares to my gofundme link will be really appreciated too ...... if you can't help, maybe others can?
Thank you for reading,
Caroline x
Last year in a bid to sort myself out physically I started running and entered a number of races. The knock on effect of pushing myself out of this particular comfort zone was incredible. I managed to lose weight, I managed to run 10k without stopping and even better I managed to raise £710 for Mind, the mental health charity. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety this really boosted my self-esteem and both my physical and mental health improved.
Unfortunately, as those with poor mental health will know, it tends to be two steps forward and one step back! Exactly one year later, the weight is back on and the running has fizzled out.....
It has been a really difficult year so far for many that I know. On the 10th March this year a very close friend of my daughter's took his own life at the age of 19. Jason Pettey was so caring, so kind and so supportive to all his friends; a true gentleman. It was the hardest thing ever watching my daughter receive this devastating news and not a day passes when he is not mentioned in our house......he will never be forgotten.
It was at this point I decided I must do more to try and help those that may be at risk of suicide. I believe we could ALL do more, so after much research I made my first contact with Grassroots Suicide Prevention in Brighton. This charity is one that offers training in suicide intervention and first aid ranging from an afternoon course in how to spot someone at risk and direct them to those that can help, through to actually training to train others in suicide first aid and intervention skills. I decided this was my aim and I needed to save up my pennies! £68 for the first course, £239 for the second and a further £2500 for the ultimate five day residential course that would qualify me to deliver these life-saving workshops to others.
Three short months after Jason's death I went in to work one morning only to be given the news that one of our students had also taken her life the day before. Molly Green was 19 years old too. A beautiful, talented and successful young lady who had achieved so much already in her short life and yet clearly to all who knew her had the potential to achieve so much more.
Not a day goes by now where I do not think of Jason and Molly. I wish more than anything they were still with us, that something could have been done. In their memory I want to do all I can for anyone else who may be in their position in the future as sadly I know there are many.
On 23rd July I attended my first workshop. SafeTALK is the first step and has educated me in how to spot those at risk of suicide, how to directly approach, talk and listen to them, then how and where to direct them on to to keep safe.
In October this year I will be attending the ASIST course (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). This two day workshop will teach me the most up-to-date suicide intervention and mental first aid skills.
The next part is where it gets tricky and YOU come in! The final step in my plan is to attend the five day residential course which will train me to train others and deliver ASIST workshops; however to do so I need to find £2500!
I have paid for a charity place to run this year's Great North Run and in the first instance will be looking to raise £300 for Mind. My hope is that any money over this amount will then be put towards the £2500 training for trainers course fee. www.livingworks.net/programs/asist-for-trainers/
Please help me to help others ....... any donations will be fantastic and shares to my gofundme link will be really appreciated too ...... if you can't help, maybe others can?
Thank you for reading,
Caroline x
Organiser
Caroline Jane Miller
Organiser
