Northwich man leads suicide and debt initiative (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich man leads suicide and debt initiative

4:40pm Monday 30th July 2012 in News

PROFESSIONALS dealing face-to-face with distressed people in debt should not be afraid to ask if they ever felt that suicide was the only way out of their problems, said one of the UK’s most experienced mental health specialists.

Nigel Crompton, a senior mental health nurse and head of service development with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), was speaking at the launch of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by a Northwich insolvency practitioner.

He said: “Our experience has shown that most people will not mind if you ask them if they have considered suicide.

“It is often the elephant in the room and most people will feel a great sense of relief that they have been asked the question.

“But before asking the specific question, you can lead up to it by asking if they have ever felt that life isn’t worth living, if they have ever felt like getting away from it all or if they have ever felt that they may do something to harm themselves.”

The pioneering initiative is designed to help professionals recognise if a client had a mental health problem or was suicidal and how to signpost them to medical help.

It is based on intensive training courses and is being driven by CWP in collaboration with the Campaign for Awareness of Mental Illness Among Debtors (CAMIAD), spearheaded by Northwich insolvency practitioner Ian Williamson.

“The course provides an invaluable insight into the mental issues facing those people who find themselves in debt and I am confident that it will now have an impact nationwide,” Ian said.

“If this initiative saves just one life over the country then it will be worthwhile.”