Men's suicide prevention charity James' Place (JP) is expanding its services alongside their Liverpool 8 and London bases.
They will open centres in Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle Gateshead. Therapist and manager of JP, Jane Boland told the ECHO: "We’re on track to open our third centre in Newcastle Gateshead and are confident we will get funding for the other two by 2025."
JP was founded in 2018 by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley, after the loss of their son James in 2006 aged 21. James did not find the urgent help needed when looking for someone to talk to about suicidal thoughts.
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In 2020/21 JP received 500 referrals with 165 completing up to six weeks intervention in one to one therapy sessions. Some did not follow up with referrals, with the majority signposted to alternative services.
Over 700,000 people die annually by suicide worldwide. Suicide is a major public health problem, is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 50 and young people aged 20 to 34 in the UK.
Independent research by Dr Pooja Saini at Liverpool John Moores University found the JP treatment model reduces suicidality in men and makes a life-changing difference to individuals, their families, communities and the wider system. The research showed on average, men who attended JP Liverpool between 2018-2021 experienced a clinically and statistically significant positive change in their mental wellbeing following treatment, and reduced levels of psychological distress.
Jane said: "What's really exciting working here is we now know the work we do with the men, the intervention we deliver, makes them feel better. They feel less depressed when they finish working with us. We also know it makes them feel less trapped.
"We know we're doing something that reduces the chances of this person killing themselves. The men who leave us know they’re much more able to cope in the future with what happens".
Chief executive of James’ Place Ellen O’Donoghue said: “We know our model works and our aim is that by 2026 half the male population in England will be able to access our life-saving services. The men we see feel their death by suicide is the answer to the problems they’re facing.
"We’ve helped over 1,200 men to date with our short and focused one to one therapy and are determined to reach more men that desperately need our help. Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 50 and we want to change that."
Men can self refer or be referred by a health professional. Senior therapist Claire Laroc said: "In the near future we will be getting an outreach worker to help target hard to reach communities. Someone people can relate to.”
Ex service user Michael said: "My mental health issues began with the loss of my mum. I just felt like everything was on top of me and I really just couldn’t feel.
"If I drew a picture [of how he felt], I would have just been sat in the corner with a rock on top, just weighed down by things. Now, I feel so light, and a different person”.
For advice you can call the Samaritans, free from any phone on 116 123, text SHOUT to 85258 or seek help from your local A&E hospital department.
For further information visit James' Place HERE
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