Since HOPELineUK was launched last September, there has been a concerted effort to inform the public of it’s existence. The marketing budget is quite small, so we have been using the most cost effective means available. Email has been used to inform the various health and social care agencies, from Primary Care Teams to local authority Social Services offices. It takes some time to collect email addresses from websites and we will never really know how effective it has been. However, we are receiving many enquiries from organisations who have heard about us in this way.

 

Anyone who searches the internet will have seen the sponsored links on the right hand side of Google. They also appear on partner sites such as Ask Jeeves, NTL and Times Online, etc. At the beginning of January, the management team decided to try putting a HOPELineUK advert on Google. Although we are only charged when someone clicks on the link, the advert is displayed to many more people than those who decide to get more details by clicking on the link to our site. The advert displays the name, the phone number and the web address, so it is possible that some will make a note of the helpline number for future reference.

 

Most of the calls to HOPElineUK are focussed on our primary aim, that is, from people who are concerned about someone else and want to know what they can do to help. The data collected by the telephone system enables us to undertake a detailed analysis of the incoming calls, For example what time the call is made, what type of help the caller is given.

 

 

Our advisers have to complete the CALL training programme prior to them taking calls on the helpline. This includes two days of telephone helpline training and training in the use of the computer system used to manage the helpline virtual switchboard and the database of services available throughout the UK. Training sessions on specific topics are ongoing and cover issues such as the child and adolescent mental health system and mental health in young offenders

institutions.

 

As part of the ongoing training programme for HOPElineUK staff three officers from Stoke Heath Young Offender Institution came to Wrexham in January to give the advisers an insight into how suicidal young men are catered for within the prison.  Many thanks to Principal Officer/Safer Custody Mick Lathwood, Nigel Bromley and Nigel Jones for a most interesting presentation.

Spencer Bailey set up a website in the North East of England
 (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Co. Durham, Darlington and Teesside) following his own experiences of mental distress including attempted suicide.

The website, www.re-quest.org.uk, is aimed at young men experiencing any type of mental distress. The site was aimed at young men under 35 because of their reluctance to seek help when needed and to talk about how they feel as well as the alarmingly high rate of suicide for the age group. It also provides details of both local and national help and information phone numbers, web links, information and personal written work from young men with similar experiences. So far

re-quest.org.uk has used several innovative approaches to targeting young men to visit the site including fliers in music, sport and clothing shops, beer mats, adverts in local culture, music and lifestyle magazines, adverts in football fanzines and fliers at drop-in/advice services in the statutory and voluntary sector.

Spencer adds: ‘I am a member of the management committee for a local advice service for young people under 25 in Newcastle called Streetwise. I recommended the 'Thinking Of Ending It All?' leaflet and they ordered several copies. The head of counselling commented on how easy to read and useful the leaflets were and contained a lot of good information and she offers them to people who need them in counselling. Streetwise also run a group as part of the national inquiry into self-harm in young people The group have been given the leaflet and so far there has been nothing but  praise for it’.

 

For further information about the site e-mail: re-quest@talk21.com.

 

Families can access HOPElineUK details on the Prison Service web site at: http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk   

Ann – HOPELineUK adviser says:

Working at the HOPElineUK helpline at Wrexham since October 2005, I have been struck not only by the professionalism and commitment of both the PAPYRUS & CALL staff and volunteers, but by their kindness and support. The office itself is warm and welcoming and the workspace is designed to make the operator feel comfortable and to respect the privacy of the caller.

 

It is no easy task to start a satellite office and although there have been minor teething problems - mainly due to distance - they have been overcome very quickly by the PAPYRUS head office. The availability of Anne Parry has been a tremendous support. ……..popping in to say “hello”……… phoning to see” how things are going.”

Getting known

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