Ward Manager Medical Same Day Emergency Care @StockportNHS. DPSN, 1:1 BSc, NMP, (part!) MSc. #Type1. Supporting Trust Values. All views are my own. She/Her
Such a profound statement. Thinking of my brother Jack. He died by hanging @ 19 in 2012. He would be 32, with a life, hopefully no criminal record π€£ and maybe with children. What I know for sure is heβd still be surrounded by a family who love him. Without him weβre broken π
Suicide.
I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.
You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.
Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.
I know 2 men who hung themselves.
One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.
A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.
So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?
A segway for a moment.
I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.
After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..
"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".
Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.
"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.
After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".
Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".
And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.
Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.
If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.
They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".
They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.
If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.
Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.
So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.
You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.
For those who struggle, you're not alone.
A busy morning! @MSDECSHH Macmillan coffee morning hosted by the lovely Erica, followed by seeing lots of fantastic developments happening at the Trust transformation event @StockportNHS
A fantastic opening of AFUs community garden/courtyard today! It was lovely to welcome patients to enjoy outdoor space as part of their inpatient stay βοΈ
All payments are up to date as per the app. Being told of device payment arrears yet the contract states βinvalidβ and is not included in the total bill. As a customer we expect clear concise and transparent billing. Missed payments match the payments out of the bank account
@ThreeUK can you please advise why we have had three cancelled conversations via the app. All whilst trying to sort a letter advising of a missed payment we can clearly evidence. Being coerced into a web of additional payments, an allegation the app is not accurate 1/2
@ThreeUK can you kindly advise why we have had multiple closed conversations over the app regarding a payment we have been informed has not been made yet we can clearly evidence. Interestingly no transcript of the typed conversation is available. 1/2
Wow. Almost one year already! A fantastic initiative that has lent itself to a number of quality improvements within the service. Seeing a significant increase in patient experience and productivity. Thankyou sister KM @MSDECSHH
Proud to be part of @MSDECSHH ED in-reach pilot starting tomorrow until the end of March. Wonderfully championed by Sister KM who has identified ways to improve our patients journeys and support our @ED_SteppingHill colleagues with the significant pressures they are experiencing.
Thankyou to @ED_SteppingHill and @MSDECSHH for taking such good care of a close family member. Such glowing feedback! Feel like I had my own secret shopper π€£
π@StockportNHS ED are holding a recruitment event for Bands 6,5 & 3 for the all new Emergency Campus! Come along to Pinewood House, Stepping Hill hospital on Saturday 12th October, from 10. Some interviews will be held on the day! @SalfordUni@BoltonNursing@GMNurses@theRCN π
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust are holding a recruitment event for Band 5 & 6s for the exciting new Emergency & Urgent Care Campus on at Stepping Hill Hospital on 12 October, 10-3.Some interviews will take place on the day! @ED_SteppingHill@NicFirth@MFTnhs@RCNNorthWest
@IanWhitmore9 Iβm so sorry youβre in a bad place right now. I can see a lot of people who want to help you. I hope you get the support you need
@CityPolice@metpoliceuk@MetCC (tweeting from north!) can we please get a welfare check on this gentleman???