Welcome

Welcome to your wellbeing update for September. This month's edition focusses on World Suicide Prevention Day and we have included information, training and resources for helping yourself and others.

Please feel free to share anything you find useful with your colleagues, friends and family. If you are a manager, please help us spread the word by sharing information from this newsletter during your team meetings where possible, even if it's just to cover the main points. Thank you for your support.

Suicide awareness

• World Suicide Prevention Day
• R;pple Suicide Prevention

Training for you

• Suicide awareness training
• Other training
• Bookboon - unconscious bias, wellbeing and motivation

Campaigns and events for you

• Staff lunchtime walks
• Know your numbers!
• Macmillan's Coffee Morning
• Quit smoking clinic

Suicide Awareness

World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on Saturday 10 September and is an opportunity to help people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts by raising awareness of suicide, reducing the stigma and encouraging action from all of us.

Look out for those who are not coping

Everyone copes and reacts with suicidal thoughts in their own way but there are some general signs to look out for. For some people, several of these signs might apply - for others just one or two, or none.

Signs that someone may not be OK

What to do if you think someone is struggling

Taking the time to reach out to someone you know - a family member, friend, colleague or even stranger - could change the course of their life.

Once someone starts to share how they’re feeling, it’s important to listen. You don't need to have solutions, but simply making the time and space to listen to someone about their experiences of distress or suicidal thoughts can help and show you care. You can be a good listener by following SHUSH:

• Show you care
• Have patience
• Use open questions
• Say it back
• Have courage

What to do if you think someone is struggling

Where to get help

If the person you are worried about is in immediate danger, call an ambulance on 999. This is the quickest way to get help. If there isn't immediate danger, speaking to a GP can help understand the issue and identify what steps can be taken in the long-term. Find your local GP using the NHS website.

Helplines

There are lots of phonelines and text lines available to help people who are feeling down or desperate. A full list is on our crisis and suicide prevention intranet page.

EAP and support services

Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can help if you are experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. Reach out to EAP by calling 0800 1116 387 or visiting My EAP (log in using the username ‘PCCuser’). EAP can offer access to 12-weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) where appropriate. Mental health support services are listed on the intranet.

R;pple Suicide Prevention

R;pple is a tool which discretely 'intercepts' harmful internet searches on self-harm or suicide by generating a pop-up that includes a message of hope and details of free mental health support. To find out more about the R;pple Suicide Prevention tool and how to download this for free onto a personal device, please visit the R;pple website.

Training for you

We have training sessions related to suicide awareness and other wellbeing areas taking place soon. Take a look through the list below, and if interested, book your place as soon as you can to guarantee your spot.

Please remember, you may continue to book via the Portsmouth Learning Gateway (PLG) until 9 September.

Suicide awareness training

Solent Mind - Wednesday 14 September, 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Join Solent Mind for a 30-minute presentation on suicide awareness followed by a 30-minute Q&A. The presentation aims to give you awareness and understanding of suicide and provides a three-step approach to spotting the signs of someone having suicidal thoughts, how to have a considerate and helpful conversation, and how to signpost someone to support.

Please contact lunchtimelearning@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for an invite. A recording of the presentation will be on the intranet for staff who are unable to attend.

Suicide First Aid Lite - Tuesday 18 October, 10am to 1.30pm

Learn the skills you need to help someone with thoughts of suicide stay safe and alive by attending Suicide First Aid Lite in the Collingwood Training Room, Civic Offices. Find out more and book your place by:

• Logging into the PLG 
• Clicking Training for PCC staff
• Searching for 'First Aid Lite' in the keyword search box

We need to TALK about suicide

If you regularly come into contact with members of the public, this course will help you feel more confident about having a conversation with someone you believe might be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Find out more and book your place by:

• Logging into the PLG
• Clicking eLearning at the top of the page
• Searching for 'Suicide' in the course search box at the top-right of the page.

Other training

Resilience and wellbeing awareness - Wednesday 9 November, 9.30am to 12.30pm

This workshop will explore what resilience is and the behaviours that strengthen it - enabling us to deal effectively with pressure and bounce back from the inevitable setbacks that are part of life.

For more details and to book your place, please contact staff wellbeing coordinator by emailing PCCWorkplaceWellbeing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Coping with change - Monday 5 December, 2pm to 5pm

This workshop looks at the stages of change, dealing with change, self-care and positive mindsets. Discuss what change is and different tools that can be used to support you and others.

For more details and to book your place, please contact staff wellbeing coordinator by emailing PCCWorkplaceWellbeing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Bookboon - unconscious bias, wellbeing and motivation

Bookboon is a free platform offering audios and eBooks on a wide selection of topics. Today, we have featured three titles related to wellbeing. We hope you enjoy reading or listening.

The unconscious bias Learn the basics about bias and its impacts on us and wider society. Using key steps including introspection, awareness and building connections through empathy to understand the impact of bias. Download

How to boost your wellbeing at work Read this eBook to understand your wellbeing needs and discover how to create the conditions that let you thrive at work. Download

How to improve your motivation Do you know what really motivates you? More importantly, do you know how to motivate others? Download

Campaigns and events for you

Staff lunchtime walks

Grab some fresh air, get your steps in and chat with colleagues by joining our 10-minute staff lunchtime walk around Victoria Park, taking place every Tuesday at 1pm from 6 September onwards.

If you fancy a longer walk, Charlie Johnson, who works in our adult services team, organises a faster-paced 50-to-60-minute wellbeing walk from 12.15pm, also every Tuesday, which is open to the public. Both walks start outside the front of the Civic Offices.

For more information about the wellbeing walk, please contact Charlie Johnson by calling 02392 841762 or emailing Charlie.johnson@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Know your numbers!

#KnowYourNumbers by checking your blood pressure regularly.

When did you last check your blood pressure? Know Your Numbers! week is a national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of checking your blood pressure.

If you’re one of the eight million people in England with diagnosed high blood pressure, make sure you’re regularly checking yours – at least once a year – as regular monitoring and clinical management with medication and lifestyle changes significantly reduces your risk of stroke and heart attack.

Find out more

Macmillan's Coffee Morning

Macmillan's Coffee Morning on Friday 30 September helps to raise money to support people living with cancer. Host your own coffee morning to raise awareness and support Macmillan.

Get involved

Quit smoking clinic

Want help to stop smoking? A quit smoking clinic is being held at the civic offices every Wednesday from 1pm to 5pm in Ground Floor Meeting Room 9.

The clinic will help you prepare for your quit date, provide weekly contact with a trained advisor, arrange for you to receive stop-smoking products and give guidance on using e-cigarettes. To book an appointment at the quit smoking clinic, please self-refer via their website.