PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide’s Post

The giving season is a vital time for grassroots organizations like our sibling nonprofit, the Cervitude Coalition Inc, who sustain our work at Cervitude Counseling PLLC. Due to systemic inequalities in the healthcare system, impacting access to treatment for marginalized communities, we decided to come together in 2019 and co-created a community care endeavor which helps individuals going through the challenges of navigating our healthcare system in accessing the long term mental health care they deserve. As a small, grassroots initiative operating as a worker cooperative (PLLC) and sibling non-profit, we take pride in our collective labor and redistribute resources to individuals we “cerv”! Rooted in the values of collective liberation and healing, our ecosystem remains steadfast in its mission to center marginalized individuals and communities. By donating a monthly tax deductible donation, you can provide a steady funding stream for our community therapy fund. As we navigate this critical historical moment, we remind you of the meaningful ongoing impact your donation creates. If you haven't donated yet, we encourage you to consider it. At this time, we rely mainly on small individual tax deductible donations from our Cervitude community and beyond. And thanks to additional crowdsourcing and fundraising efforts with one time donations of any size to our end of the year push through GoFundMe, we have been able to reach more folx into the communities we cerv. We have provided free monthly arts for health and wellness virtual workshops in Spanish, increased probono and reduced fee solidarity slots for mental health counseling, and medical debt forgiveness for Cervitude clients who incurred balances with us due to insurance denials/lack of coverage. We fight insurance companies as advocates for our clients and if we lose, our clients are never burdened with the debt their insurance company should have paid. Thank you for supporting our grassroots and mutual aid initiatives this season of giving. If you haven't yet, please consider being part of our solution while we continue advocating for Medicare for All in our advocacy work. And if you know of a like minded corporation, foundation, or a community support group that could help, won’t you please introduce us? We are hoping to raise $7,000 by the end of this year. We hope this winter solstice time is an opportunity for collective rest to reset for the days ahead, with whatever challenges and changes they may bring. We remain steadfast in our commitment to stewarding the Cervitude eco-system and supporting our clients through this season of individual healing and collective revolution. In Solidarity, Angelica Pinna-Perez, PhD Worker-Owner of Cervitude Counseling PLLC and Founder of Cervitude Coalition. Inc https://gofund.me/8b5e9abd

It's a bit of a different post from me this morning, but I need your help - so if you can take a minute to read the below, I'd greatly appreciate it. Just over two years ago I lost one of my closest friends, Joe, to suicide. Losing Joe was devastating and I don't think there's a day that's gone by since where I haven't thought about him or asked myself the inevitable questions - "How did I not know?", "Is there something I could have done?", "Should I have spoken to him more?" Going through such a close personal experience of suicide brought home just how many young people are lost to suicide each year and it's proof that more needs to be done to prevent it. By talking about suicide and mental health we raise awareness and help remove the stigma - a simple conversation can be lifesaving if someone is struggling. After losing Joe a mutual friend, Henry, organised a fundraising effort for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide - a charity who's mission is to reduce the number of suicides in young people by removing the stigma surrounding suicide and helping equip young people with the skills to recognise and respond to those in emotional distress. In June of 2022 Henry, his Dad Douglas, sister Harriot and I completed the Three Peaks challenge and thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported us we raised nearly £6000 for the charity. Fast forward to today, Henry is once again raising money for PAPYRUS - along side Jack, Kyle, Lucca & Finnbar he will be taking on the Lyke Wake Walk across the North York Moors this weekend. The 40 mile walk spans the highest and widest part of the moors with a 5000ft elevation gain and they are setting out to complete this, as a team, in under 24 hours. It's no mean feat, but Henry and the team have been training hard and are determined to complete the challenge and hopefully raise some life saving funds for PAPYRUS in the process. So, if you've made it this far in the post - this is where I need your help. If you're able to, please consider donating what you can to Henry's JustGiving page below. Your money is truly life saving. If you're not able to donate - please share this post, help raise awareness and remove the stigma around suicide. Thank you all very much in advance, any support will be appreciated by Henry and the team. https://lnkd.in/evS-y-mT

Hi folks - I know I post about this fundraiser each year....coming back to the well feels a little "off" because I keep asking for your support (if you're in the USA, it's like NPR fundraising week - you just want to change the channel, right?). The money raised last year helped bring over 600 schools through the world class "Headstrong" program. Totally funded by you. A generation of young people equipped to understand mental health and wellbeing, and to look after themselves and each other. It trained dozens of community buddies. One wrote to our CEO last year and said "this training saved a live today". We arranged a successful awareness ride in the USA for the first time and funded local Suicide Prevention Coalitions and front line LOSS counselors who help recently-bereaved families. One thing about this cause, across all charities who operate in it - the money is immediately put to work and drives benefits nearly instantaneously. We all support (in may case, work in) areas of "moonshot" disease and causes. Cancer, Alzheimer, MS, climate and the like. Big problems, big money, tough solutions and perhaps the "cure" seems far off, although we must continue to work on it. Don't get me wrong - mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention is NOT a small problem. In some age cohorts, genders and geographies suicide is the leading cause of death. However, we DO know what helps. While there is no guarantee of any particular intervention saving any particular life, the suicide prevention community has evidence-backed interventions that work.....and they not only save lives, they lead to enhanced quality of life for everyone in countless ways. Even those who will never experience mental health challenges, but become equipped to help those who might be going through a tough patch. So, here I am again asking for you help to fund work that should be mandated and funded in every school in our communities, but isn't. It's a cliche but you're planting trees you won't know the shade of....and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing so. https://gofund.me/484e8d43

🌊 The Ripple Effect of Losing Small Charities: A Story for #SmallCharityWeek Today, I want to share a story—a fictional one, but all too real in its implications—about the profound ripple effects when a small charity is forced to close its doors. #Charity #CommunitySupport 🏠 Imagine a small town, home to a charity called "Hope Haven." Hope Haven specialises in supporting young people and families struggling with #mentalhealth. For years, this charity has been a lifeline, providing support. Families have relied on their services to navigate the challenges of mental health. 💔 However, due to budget cuts, Hope Haven was forced to close. The immediate impact was felt by those directly receiving support. Sarah, a single mother of two, had been attending weekly therapy sessions at Hope Haven to cope with #depression. Without this safe space, Sarah's mental health began to decline rapidly, she struggled to care for her children. 📉 As Sarah's situation worsened, her children's school noticed changes. The kids began coming to school hungry and unkempt, their performance and behaviour deteriorating. The teachers, already stretched thin, tried to help but couldn't replace the specialised support that Hope Haven provided. 😢 Jake, a teenager who attended Hope Haven's youth groups to manage his #anxiety, also faced significant challenges. Without these sessions, his anxiety spiralled out of control. He stopped attending school and isolated himself, and his future prospects started to dim. 🏥 The local GP surgery soon noticed an increase in mental health-related visits. With nowhere else to turn, individuals who had relied on Hope Haven now sought help from the already overwhelmed #NHS services. Waiting times grew, and the quality of care diminished. 💼 The ripple effect didn't stop there. Local businesses started to feel the strain. Employees who had previously used Hope Haven's services began to struggle with their own mental health, leading to increased #absenteeism and decreased #productivity. 🚔 The community's overall wellbeing took a hit. Crime rates began to rise as some young people, without the positive influence and support from Hope Haven, fell into the wrong crowd. Anti-social behaviour increased, making the town less safe for everyone. 🏘️ Schools, #healthcare providers, businesses, and families all felt the absence of Hope Haven. What seemed like a small #charity from the outside had actually been a crucial thread in the fabric of the #community. Its loss was felt deeply and widely. 📖 This story, though fictional, mirrors real-life situations happening across the UK. Small #charities might appear insignificant, but their impact is profound. When they disappear, the societal damage is like a ripple that spreads far and wide. 🙏 As we celebrate #SmallCharityWeek, let's remember the importance of supporting these vital organisations. They might be small in size, but their contributions to society are immeasurable.

Charities and councils have for many years used memory boxes to help those who have experienced loss and trauma to better understand their feelings. Memory boxes to help people deal with loss and trauma are increasingly being used online by charities and other support organisations. 🔗 Read the full article here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ec3wNtSS #CharityDigital #MemoryBoxes #NonProfit

What role do charities and funders play in supporting young people with their mental health? New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has published a paper about the youth mental health crisis. With rising need and difficulty in accessing services, it considers how charities and funders can create positive change. The report is useful for anyone working in this space, and a few points stood out to me: - We all know how innovative charities are, and many are using innovative approaches to reach more people. For example, Empire Fighting Chance offers Box Therapy which combines non-contact boxing with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Many charities are embracing digital services. These can reach young people quickly and give them more autonomy about where and when they access support. Some are partnering with NHS trusts, corporates, other charities, and research institutions. - Many charity services rely on volunteers, yet there has been a drop in volunteering numbers in recent years (impacted by crisis events such as cost-of-living and the pandemic). -  Funders are recognising the importance of this area. NPC notes that “as well as giving more, funders also need to change how they are giving because of the rapidly changing environment”. It has identified six recommended areas for funders to focus on. These include early intervention, supporting marginalised children and young people, and targeted funding to build and diversify the mental health workforce. https://lnkd.in/eJ-uSN5P

💜 Emergency Appeal - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide 💜 For the first time in our 28-year history, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is launching an emergency appeal to keep HOPELINE247 running through the night. Without urgent support, we may be forced to make the devastating decision to cut back our services. Every three minutes, a distressed young person contacts HOPELINE247, our suicide prevention helpline. These calls, texts, and messages come during their darkest hours—often in the middle of the night, when other services aren’t available to them. Since extending HOPELINE247 to a 24/7 service last year, demand has surged. In 2024 alone, we had 12,000 life-saving interactions during the night and saw a 66% increase in the number of young people seeking help through our webchat service. These numbers tell us how vital our work is, but rising costs and a sharp decline in donations across the charity sector have brought us to a critical moment. If you are able to donate, please do: https://lnkd.in/ehkmTE5B Or you can share our appeal through your social media, networks and contacts to amplify our reach and inspire others to contribute to this lifesaving work.

24 to 28 June is “Small Charity Week”, an initiative designed to give more visibility to charities. So, what better time to get involved with some local causes, such as… 1. Woking & Sam Beare Hospice and Wellbeing Care 👩⚕️ This charity, which is close to our hearts at Bray Wealth, provides palliative and end-of-life care to patients in north-west Surrey. Our founder, Ken Bray, was cared for in the hospice and we’ve worked closely with the charity ever since. If you’d like to support them, they’re always looking for fundraisers and volunteers, or you could visit their dedicated charity shop on Chobham High Street. 2. Children with Special Needs Foundation 👦 Located in Chobham, the Children with Special Needs Foundation is a brilliant charity, offering wide-ranging support to children with additional needs of all kinds. They work with individual families, raising funds to purchase specialist equipment and create valuable experiences for children with special needs. 3. Home Start 🏠 Local charity, Home Start, provides much-needed support to parents who feel isolated, struggle with childcare responsibilities, and have faced emotional distress due to divorce or bereavement. Supporting parents means their children can get the best start in life, so you may want to volunteer to work with families or host fundraising events on their behalf. 4. The Floral Project 🌸 The Floral Project, which is based just outside Chobham, is a unique business that offers flowers to combat loneliness. The business sells seeds and provides growing information for native flowers to people in the community, which could mean a lot to someone facing difficulties in their life.

💜 Emergency Appeal - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide 💜 For the first time in our 28-year history, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is launching an emergency appeal to keep HOPELINE247 running through the night. Without urgent support, we may be forced to make the devastating decision to cut back our services. Every three minutes, a distressed young person contacts HOPELINE247, our suicide prevention helpline. These calls, texts, and messages come during their darkest hours—often in the middle of the night, when other services aren’t available to them. Since extending HOPELINE247 to a 24/7 service last year, demand has surged. In 2024 alone, we had 12,000 life-saving interactions during the night and saw a 66% increase in the number of young people seeking help through our webchat service. These numbers tell us how vital our work is, but rising costs and a sharp decline in donations across the charity sector have brought us to a critical moment. If you are able to donate, please do: https://lnkd.in/ehkmTE5B Or you can share our appeal through your social media, networks and contacts to amplify our reach and inspire others to contribute to this lifesaving work.