James' Place is asking men "Do you have a plan?" ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day

Suicide prevention charity James’ Place is urging men in Liverpool and the North West who have made a plan to end their life to seek help as soon as possible.

James’ Place offers free, life-saving treatment to men in suicidal crisis at their Liverpool centre in the Georgian Quarter, as well as at centres in London and Newcastle and has helped over 2,300 men across the country to date.

Men who receive therapy at James’ Place are in suicidal crisis largely driven by life events, such as a relationship breakdown, financial problems, or bereavement. They have reached a point where they see suicide as the answer to their problems. They are experiencing intense and distressing suicidal thoughts and have often made a plan to end their life, or already made a suicide attempt.

Andy Noon, Head of Centre at James’ Place Liverpool said:

“We want to let men in Liverpool and the North West know that if you’ve made a plan to end your life, have made a recent suicide attempt, or are experiencing intense and distressing suicidal thoughts, reach out to us and we can help you make a different plan.

It may seem overwhelming to reach out and tell someone what is going on, but please rest assured that many people have felt how you feel now and have come through their crisis. What you are feeling at the moment won’t always hold this much power over your life and you can overcome these feelings with the right help.

If you are worried about someone else, don’t be afraid to ask them if they have made a plan to end their life. You won’t put the idea in their head. If they say yes, you can look for help for them on our website jamesplace.org.uk/plan, call 111, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, or take them to A&E or your nearest walk-in centre.”

Men in suicidal crisis can contact James’ Place themselves or be referred to the centre by a professional including those working in health and community services, or by a friend or family member.

The centre has no waiting list and will typically see men for an initial assessment within two working days. Following assessment, men receive around six to eight face-to-face sessions of talking therapy with a trained professional therapist in a safe, friendly, non-clinical environment. James’ Place works alongside the NHS and other local support services, taking on clinical responsibility for the men they treat.

44 year Matt, who received help from James’ Place said:

“I was in a really dark place at the beginning of the year, I just felt I couldn’t live through another year and I started to think about taking my own life. I knew I needed some help and when I googled James’ Place popped up so I filled in the form and they got back to me almost straight away and I was booked in for an appointment. The centre was really calm and nice. My therapist was lovely, it felt like she was really responding to exactly what I said. I felt heard. Over the weeks the thoughts started to subside and I felt stronger and more able to carry on. We started to work on things that could keep me well in the future, I’ve taken up mindfulness, I’ve started writing again, there’s lots of little things I do now that keep me grounded and make a difference, they stop my thoughts running away again. Going to James’ Place has been an amazing experience for me.”