New mental health support service PAPYRUS launched

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Tywi/Taf cluster has launched a new mental health support service, PAPYRUS, to try and prevent youth suicide in our population.

The national charity PAPYRUS believes many suicides can be prevented and everyone can help to give hope to young people who are struggling with life.

A Community Development Officer has been recruited locally to lead this project. They will provide suicide awareness sessions and suicide prevention training to all staff based at the eight GP practices in the 2Ts area. This role will also work with local organisations and identify opportunities within the community to engage with young people about suicide prevention.

Kate Heneghan, PAPYRUS’ Head in Wales, said: “We are really excited to have been given this opportunity to work across the Tywi/Taf GP cluster areas to help create suicide-safer communities for the young people who live there.

“This has been made possible via monies from through Primary Care cluster funding and we are very much looking forward to starting this vital work. This will include raising awareness about our helpline HOPELINEUK, sharing our extensive resources and delivering suicide prevention training to key partners who work with young people.”

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary, Community and Long Term Care, said: “PAPYRUS and their HOPELINEUK helpline will be an invaluable asset to our range of mental health services provided by our clusters.

“The commencement of this service will help ensure the younger population of the Tywi/Taf cluster have timely and easy access to local support.”

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are concerned that a young person you know could be thinking about suicide, please get in touch with HOPELINEUK. They will provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting on your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe. These contact numbers are available 9am-midnight every day.