Urgent Help
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF SUICIDE YOU CAN ACCESS IMMEDIATE HELP HERE
Suicide Concerns
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF SUICIDE YOU CAN ACCESS IMMEDIATE HELP HERE
Newcastle University wants to provide a safe environment for all students and staff and is committed to minimising suicide and its impact.
Newcastle University believes suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and that we can all support someone who is at risk of suicide to stay safe.
What to do if you have concerns about a student’s safety
Urgent
In any instance where an urgent response is required:
- Contact the emergency services by dialling 999. Give them as much detail as you can, such as the person's location, especially if they are not with you. Follow all guidance from the emergency services.
- Then contact the University Security Team on 0191 208 6817 to let them know what is happening, this is especially important if the emergency services require access to campus.
- Then contact Student Health and Wellbeing Services (SHWS) Consultancy Team on 0191 208 3333, they will support you and take appropriate risk mitigation action.
- If the incident occurs out of hours, the University Security Team will alert the Director of SHWS, who will support you and take appropriate risk mitigation action.
Non Urgent
If anyone has any non-urgent concerns about a Newcastle University student in relation to suicide they should:
Contact SHWS Welfare Team on 0191 208 3333 or email us.
SHWS staff need as much detail as you can provide in order to inform any risk mitigation action, this may include contacting the student, referring and/or signposting the student, to family support, and relevant internal and external support services.
If your concern cannot wait until the next working day but is not urgent, Newcastle University Security Service should be contacted on 0191 208 6817. Newcastle University Security Service will work with key partners to take risk mitigation action.
Understanding Suicide: Training
There are many factors that can lead a person to experience suicidal thoughts or actions including social, psychological and cultural factors. For many people, a suicide attempt may occur after a long period of suicidal thoughts, while for others, it may be more impulsive.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that suicide within the student population is increasing. There are a number of factors specifically relating to Higher Education that may increase the risk of suicide for students, these include transition, alcohol and substance misuse, financial pressures, academic and social expectations of university life, underlying disability or medical issue.
Students may also be at a greater risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours if they have been bereaved or affected by suicide in others. This experience process is known as ‘contagion’ and may include exposure to press coverage of suicide and social media which is especially relevant to the student population. The Zero Suicide Alliance estimate that each individual death from suicide can affect at least 20 other people.
Deliberate self-injury behaviour has also increased amongst young people over the last 15 years. Although some people who self-injure are at a high risk of suicide many people who self-injure do not wish to end their lives.
It is vital that everyone is able to understand suicide and actions to take when concerned if someone is at risk of suicide by completing the below training.
Training Step Up: Gives an introduction on how to support someone isolated during Covid and only takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete.
Training Gateway: is an introduction to suicide awareness and in just 10 minutes you will learn skills to help someone considering suicide.
Training, Let’s Talk: is an expanded version of Gateway and is a 20 minute training sessions. It focuses on reducing stigma, encouraging open conversation and will give you the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide.
Remember all training can be challenging, especially if you are a suicide survivor or have been bereaved by suicide. It may be important to have someone you can talk to while you complete the training.
Students can receive 24/7 support by downloading our free TalkCampus app.
Staff can receive 24/7 support by calling our Employee Assistance Service on 0800 030 5182
Further training and information
Mental Health Awareness: Training for Staff
Mental Health Awareness: Training for Students
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Supporting Students (Higher Education)
These 20 minute e-learning sessions are designed for all staff in university settings with the aim being to build confidence in supporting students around mental health.
The sessions are specifically written for those staff who do not hold specialist roles in mental health in the university, such as counsellors, mental health advisers etc., but rather all other staff who offer day-to-day support to students in a range of settings, such as, in residences, cafes, security staff, careers, libraries and in academic pastoral support, for example.
Responding to Distressed Students Guide
Suicide bereavement postvention resources for those bereaved or affected by suicide
Suicide bereavement educational materials for those bereaved or affected by suicide
Emergency and Out of Hours Contacts
Emergency Services
If you are worried about your safety or feel at risk of harming yourself, you need to access help immediately.
If you feel your life is in imminent danger, you should call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital.
Local hospitals are located at:
- Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle, NE1 4LP
- North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, NE9 6SX
If you are a member of staff and are concerned about a student, please refer to our Emergency Out of Hours Flow Chart.
Out of hours help
For emergencies on campus, or if you are worried about your own safety or the safety of a fellow student:
Call University Security on 0191 208 6817 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Outside normal surgery hours you can still phone your GP practice, but you'll usually be directed to an out-of-hours service. The out-of-hours period is from 6:30pm–8:00am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
Consider calling NHS on 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice, but it's not a life-threatening situation. You can also call NHS 111 if you're not sure which NHS service you need.
Information and contact details for medical, dental and mental health emergencies
Student Welfare Team
The Student Welfare Team is a telephone service available during normal office hours to anyone with concerns about the physical or mental wellbeing of a Newcastle University student.
Callers are provided with advice and guidance and when necessary the Welfare staff will take proactive safeguarding action.
To access support from the Welfare Team call the main Student Services number on 0191 208 3333 or by email.
Support Helplines
Campaign against living miserably (CALM)
The Campaign Against Living Miserably, or CALM, exists to prevent male suicide by offering support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis via a helpline and website.
Open 17.00 – 00.00, 365 days of the year.
Telephone: 0800 58 58 58
Crisis Text Line/Shout
Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer.
https://www.crisistextline.uk/
Nightline
Nightline is a student-run listening service providing a space to talk about how you're feeling and request contact information on other services. You can reach them every night of term. Visit www.nusu.co.uk/nightline for up-to-date opening times and details on how you can access the service.
North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network
Guided by national policy and based on evidence of how best to prevent suicide and promote wellbeing and resilience, the aim of the North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network is to work together to take action to reduce suicide, so that fewer people die by suicide and we improve support for those affected.
http://www.stopsuicidenenc.org/
PAPYRUS - Prevention of Young Suicide
PAPRYRUS run HOPELineUK, a phone, text and email service for vulnerable young people or for anyone concerned about a young person who may be at risk of suicide.
Open Monday to Friday 10.00 – 22.00, weekends 14.00 – 22.00 and bank holidays 14.00 – 17.00.
Telephone: 0800 068 4141
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Samaritans
Available round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call on the phone. You don't have to be suicidal to contact Samaritans.
Telephone: 116 123 (Free to call)
Email: jo@samaritans.org.uk
SANEline
SANE provides emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers.
Helpline available 16.30 – 22.30 every evening, also Textcare service and 24-hour online support forum.
Telephone: 0300 304 7000