Crisis card launched by Renfrewshire Association for Mental Health to help people
A CRISIS card has been launched to give support to people whose thoughts may turn to suicide.
Renfrewshire Association for Mental Health (RAMH) has worked on the card – dubbed This Is For You – in partnership with the Choose Life project as part of a 10-year strategy to reduce suicide in Scotland by 20 per cent.
The Scottish Government’s campaign only has two years to run and has made significant progress so far.
The new card is the size of a credit card but folds out to give information on where to go for help and supportive quotes from people who have contacted RAMH and come back from the brink of suicide.
Chief executive of RAMH, Stephen McLellan, said: “Members of our crisis service who respond on a daily basis to people who are contemplating suicide came up with the idea for the card.
“They know from experience that if people have information then very often they’re in a better position to make positive decisions about their life.
“A lot of the quotes on the card have come from people who have contacted RAMH talking about how beneficial the support has been, to have someone to talk to.
“We hope that with information and knowing that there are people around them to help, it will help tackle suicide rates.”
The 16,000 cards will be distributed across doctor’s surgeries, through emergency services, health visitors, social work services and other services which are likely to come into contact with people in crisis.
Renfrewshire North and West MSP Derek Mackay helped launch the card at RAMH’s Paisley offices on Blackstoun Road.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “It was good that all the different agencies in partnership like the health services, council and voluntary sector, pull together to help with the launch of the card.
“I think it will be a useful tool in avoiding suicide which is an issue across Scotland as well as in Renfrewshire.
“Anything we can do to deter people and support them is very welcome and I was happy to go along and show my support.”
RAMH received financial support to produce 16,000 cards for distribution through funding from Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (CHP) Bright Ideas fund.
This is an initiative which encourages health and associated staff to develop and pilot “new ideas” which ultimately make a difference to the health and well being of residents in Renfrewshire.
The card has been so successful, that RAMH have distributed copies as far afield as Dumfries and the Highlands, via the Scottish Mental Health Co-operative movement, a consortia of Local Charitable Mental Health Associations.
RAMH is one of Scotland’s foremost Mental Health Charities and operate across Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and South Ayrshire, often 24 hours a day.
