From: Kelly and Michele ODonnell <mcaresources@gmail.com>
Date: Tues, Sept 9, 2014
Subject: short summary--informal gathering on mental health, suicide, and personal-social support
Hi folks,
Thanks to all those who came to Saturday's gathering on global mental health and suicide. (6 Sept). We were a group of seven people meeting for two hours and then lingering for another one-two hours. We reviewed and shared our perspectives from some of the week’s gatherings here in Geenva: the Dignity and Mental Health Briefing (NGO Forum for Health) and the WHO mhGAP Forum which focused on implementation updates for the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 and launched the World Suicide Report. See the core materials and links below. Note that World Suicide Prevention Day is tomorrow, 10 Sept. 2014.
In addition, we watched a moving 10 minute report on mental health in Liberia by PBS, looking at what is life like and what mental health resources are available now--14 years after the civil war. We finished with a short exercise in which we identified ‘who was holding/not holding the rope for us etc.' if we were climbing a cliff (this exercise helped us consider our social support networks and people we trust, both of which are related to personal resilience).
More news (keeping with our overall theme of Protecting People and Promoting Wellbeing): Humanitarian Policy Group is holding a seminar (with dial in capability) in London on 16 September, focusing on civilian safety in the Central Africa Republic. Click here for more information: http://www.odi.org/events/4006-central-african-republic-protection-peacekeepers-car
Next Trio gathering
One of the purposes of meeting informally with a variety of colleagues (outside the context of our usual work) is to provide a place for mutual learning and support. The next trio gathering is Saturday 20 September, 10am-noon. The topic is Security for All People and Sustainable Development Goals.
RSVP at: mcarersources@gmail.com
Directions to our house are on the Trio webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/virtrios/
Warm greetings,
Kelly and Michele
New--Suicide and depression resources (links on WHO website):
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/suicide-prevention-report/en/
--Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative (WHO report in several languages, September 2014)
--See also the 5 minute video on suicide)
--Living with a Black Dog (animated, creative video to support those who help others with depression; a companion video to I Had a Black Dog)
Key facts about suicide (from WHO website)
· Over 800 000 people die due to suicide every year.
· For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
· Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
· 75% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
· Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.