Back Back

New Chair for city’s Suicide Prevention group

24/05/2019
clare-dickens-mayor

An award-winning mental health nurse from the University of Wolverhampton has been selected to chair a local suicide prevention forum.

Clare Dickens is the new Chair of the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum, which is one of this year’s City of Wolverhampton Mayor’s charities.

The Forum examines the needs of Wolverhampton residents in relation to suicide prevention. Attendees include representation from Public Health, the University of Wolverhampton, Samaritans, Papyrus, Compton Care, Kaleidoscope, Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council, Clinical Commissioning Group, Education Psychology Service, Police, Wolverhampton Homes, Black Country Mental Health Trust, City council mental health support, Safeguarding, and the Prison Service.

Clare is a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing and pioneered the University’s award-winning approach to suicide prevention Three Minutes to Save a Life in collaboration with Connecting with People. She said: “I am both honoured and delighted to have been trusted with this opportunity. I have a tough act to follow, taking over from a wonderful advocate for the city and suicide prevention, Samaritans’ Dave Martin. The Forum has been meeting for some time now and it should be highlighted what an integral role Public Health play in mobilizing these local efforts.

“For me the Forum represents what is great about our city and indeed human beings - a commitment to take positive action with the view to help each other. I am a proud Wulfrunian, born and bred, and this work matters to me immensely and feeds in to a community in which my own children are growing up. The University has really embraced our own vision and the part we have to play in suicide prevention and this is another demonstration of our community values and commitment to contribute to the city we call home and in which so many of our students study, live and work.”

The Forum aims to raise awareness of suicide prevention need and sources of support, and works to make progress against its action plan which includes working with vulnerable groups, compelling organisations and the community to take positive action, and to support NHS partners in reaching their reduction objectives set out in the Five Year Forward View report.

The Forum conducted a needs assessment in 2015 and used this to co-produce a city-wide action plan. The Forum represents a shift in efforts to prevent suicide and support those bereaved. Successes since its inception include the support life wolf part of the Wolves in Wolves Sculpture project, which is now a permanent feature in our city campus at the University.

The Forum has also been working with Kaleidoscope Plus Group and Compton Care to establish bereavement support. Both groups are now running bereavement support services, with Kaleidoscope providing suicide bereavement specific support.

For more details and resources for support please visit the suicide prevention web-page within the Wolverhampton Information Network (WIN)  http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/suicide-awareness

Further information

Pic: Clare Dickens at the recent Mayor making ceremony

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: Friday, 24 May 2019

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release

Related Stories