Health conference examines responses to suicide

The emotive subject of suicide is to be explored in a one-day conference, hosted by the University of Teesside’s School of Health & Social Care. Entitled ‘Meaningful Caring Responses to Suicide’ the conference will take place at Doncaster Race Course Exhibition and Conference Centre, Leger Way, Doncaster, on Tuesday 21 October from 9am to 4.30pm.

The conference is aimed at health care professionals, educators, researchers, service users and service user organisations who have worked alongside people who experience suicidal feelings. It costs £50 per delegate.

The findings of a Department of Health-funded research project about responses to suicide will be examined at the conference. Funding was provided by the NHS Executive, Trent Region, with researchers interviewing 20 people in Barnsley and Newcastle who had attempted suicide over a two-year period. These individuals were identified by contact with the Crisis Intervention Team, an NHS body who work in the community.

Sue Jackson, Research Fellow from the University’s School of Health & Social Care is part of the research team. She said: “This research has a very different angle from current practice. Various work has been undertaken about the management of suicidal people but there is little regarding ‘care’ and ‘caring’ for someone in a suicidal crisis.

“The research results suggest that people who have felt suicidal need to be attached to services longer than has been previously believed. This connection will keep the person from acting on their suicidal thoughts. In addition, the value of re-engaging the person with normal activities of living such as shopping, working, cooking appear to have a strong connection with the individual’s ability to come to terms with the fact that they have experienced suicidal feelings.”

The research findings will be described by some international names in the field of psychiatric nursing, including Professor Phil Barker, Director of Clan Unity, a Mental Health Consultancy, Dr Chris Stevenson, Reader in Nursing at the University of Teesside and Professor John Cutcliffe from the University of North British Columbia in Canada.

For more details or to book a place on the conference please contact Dr Chris Stevenson at the University on 01642 38211 or e-mail c.stevenson@tees.ac.uk

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