Primary care latest updates

World Suicide Prevention Day is hosted on 10 September each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and provides the opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.

Since 2011, more than 2,500 health care workers in the UK have lost their lives to suicide and as frontline NHS workers, looking after your own wellbeing is not always a priority, but during these difficult times it more important than ever to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you are struggling.

Leeanna Woodrow, Patient Safety Specialist and Quality Assurance and Improvement Lead, Northamptonshire ICB said: “Tragically thousands of people in the UK end their lives by suicide each year.

“There is no single reason why people die by suicide. People think of suicide for many different reasons. Sociological, economical, psychological, and genetic factors can contribute to a person being at greater risk of suicide.

“During this period, we are raising awareness of the risk factors of suicide and urging anyone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts or struggling with their mental health not to suffer alone. Please reach out to someone or access one of the support services available to NHS colleagues.”

What are risk factors?
Men are at greater risk of suicide than women. While suicide rates vary across the UK, men have accounted for more deaths by suicide than women in each nation. Suicide rates for men are at their highest level since 1999.

Trans and non-binary people are also at more risk due to the stigma, prejudice and discrimination they can face. According to the LGBTQIA+ charity Stonewall, almost half of trans people, 46%, have thought about taking their life in the last  year.

A risk factor might include:

•    difficult life events, such as a traumatic childhood or experiencing physical or emotional abuse,
•    something upsetting or life changing such as a relationship ending or a loved one dying,
•    misusing drugs or alcohol,
•    living alone or having little social contact with other people,
•    having a mental health condition such as depression
•    self-harming,
•    having a physical health condition, especially if this causes chronic pain or serious disability,
•    problems with work or money,
•    being a young person, or
•    being a middle-aged man

Support through Doctors in Distress
Doctors in Distress is a charity that provides a range of support for any healthcare workers who feels like they need it. They are not a crisis service but can provide support for any healthcare worker who is feeling burned out, overwhelmed, stressed, or scared about the present or future.

Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board will be working with Doctors in Distress in the upcoming year to remember the healthcare workers we have tragically lost to suicide in the county, and promote the support work the charity undertakes.

Please visit the Doctors in Distress website for more information about the range of support services available which includes webinars, support groups and creative workshops.

  

Helpful resources

Suicidal thoughts can be interrupted [pdf] 691KB

Little tips for helping someone open up about things [pdf] 2MB

Useful links to where you can find support

Contact the Samaritans

NHFT Talking Therapies

ICN Health and Wellbeing Calendar

Action for Happiness: Self-care September

Suicide prevention and awareness video

Clarke Carlisle video: "football's suicide secret"

Dame Kelly Holmes shares her experiences and advice for self-care 

 

 

Read Marking World Suicide Prevention Day…

Please find the Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub newsletter for April 2024:

Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub Newsletter January 2025

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2025 with a bang, and our January newsletter is packed with exciting updates and valuable info.

With Apprenticeship Week just around the corner in February, we’re thrilled to share our plans to celebrate apprenticeships and provide you with everything you need to know.

We’re also launching the New to General Practice programme—an amazing initiative you won’t want to miss! Plus, we’ve got free webinars, courses, and celebrations to keep you inspired and learning.

And don’t miss our Spotlight section, where we’ll get to know each other better!

Open the newsletter to hear more!

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Read Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub Newsletter January 2025…

Royal & Derngate are promoting an offer for Wonder Boy an award winning play that is coming to Northampton next month.

Individuals can use the code “NHS15” before choosing their seats to access £15 tickets (up to half price) for the Saturday matinee performance on the 23^rd November.

Find more about the show: https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/wonder-boy/

Book tickets for the Saturday matinee: https://tickets.royalandderngate.co.uk/89964/89968

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Welcome to Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub newsletter for October 2024, filled with exciting updates! This edition shines a spotlight on Black History Month, featuring this year's theme of 'Reclaiming the Narratives.' Discover the inspiring story of Mary Seacole and take the opportunity to join a special session focused on changing the narrative black men in the NHS. Open the newsletter now for all the details!

Northamptonshire Primary Care Training Hub Newsletter October 2024

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Please see below information from the Medical Examiner Service for West Northamptonshire:

If you receive a Diagnosis of Death document from EMAS, stating that the police were in attendance, the police officer concerned will automatically refer the death through to the coroner.

At this stage, the GP does not need to refer into the medical examiner service.

If once the coroner’s office are confident the death was natural they will contact the deceased’s GP to ask if they are able to give a cause of death, the coroner will issue a form CN1A which will be sent to both the GP in question and the medical examiner service and it is at this point that the GP refers in to the medical examiner with their cause of death for the process to continue as normal.

Once the CN1A has been sent to us by the coroner, we will know to expect a referral from you.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Medical Examiner Service if you have any questions.

 

Read Request from Medical Examiner Service…