Liverpool charity making life changing differences to men in crisis

Liverpool charity James Place are helping to prevent men dying by suicide according to a new report by Liverpool John Moores University.

The report states: "Outcomes identified clearly demonstrate that James’ Place is making a life-changing difference to individuals (and) their families".

The Office of National Statistics shows that 2018 in the UK 6,507 people died by suicide of which three-quarters were men.

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Over 800,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide and amongst men this is a major public health problem. It is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 50 and for young people aged 20-34 years in the UK.

In October 2020, James' Place launched its first Independent Evaluation Report, conducted by Dr Pooja Saini at LJMU. The findings showed that, for all men completing post intervention questionnaires, a positive change in their measured CORE-OM (outcome measures) scores compared to their first interaction was significant.

Building on this, the charity released this second evaluation (November 23) again conducted by Dr Saini and LJMU.

Their evaluation examined the effectiveness of the James’ Place model on reducing suicidality in men over a two-year period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings show the service was “just as effective, if not more, for men attending in distress during the pandemic.”

The two most common factors contributing to a suicidal crisis were relationship breakdown or family problems.

Although men came to their service with a higher level of distress than pre-pandemic (83% vs 89%) a higher proportion left with healthy to mild outcome scores (28% vs 37%) as measured by their CORE-OM system, a 9% increase.

Clinical Lead, Jane Boland, said: “This evaluation once again shows the clear impact of the James Place model. I’m delighted for the second time we are able to say there is evidence to support our assertion that James Place is a safe and effective service for men experiencing a suicidal crisis”.

Chief Executive Officer Ellen O’Donoghue said: "It is also crucial to us that James Place contributes on both a clinical and academic level to understanding what works to prevent suicide".

They give support to men over the age of 18 who are experiencing a suicidal crisis in response to predominantly social and psychological stressors. They provide quick access to non-residential therapy and support.

The service incorporates one-to-one talking therapy with specially trained therapists and is free of charge and aims to create an environment which emanates a sense of warmth and safety the moment you enter the building.

Since opening in 2018 they have engaged with over 800 men offering support and advice and completed over 450 interventions.

Jane said: "Our aim is to help men in Liverpool who find themselves in a suicidal crisis.

"Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 in this country.

"We know males in Merseyside can suffer with feelings of suicide due to varying factors such as relationship breakdowns, housing and financial worries.

"We've been able to offer our unique intervention to so many men in the borough shows that our service is vital to the good work being done to combat growing concerns around men taking their lives throughout the country".

James’ Place was founded by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley, following the tragic loss of their son, James in 2006 aged 21. James went looking for someone to talk to about suicidal thoughts but didn’t find the urgent help they desperately needed.

In a video Clare made on the brink of James Place being set up Clare said: "I think men need to talk more.

"They need to seek support and help and not think it's a weakness, it's not a weakness, it's actually a strength."

Since opening in Liverpool James Place has expanded to offer a London service and anyone can refer themselves, to their services, or someone they are concerned about.

Without the support given, they believe these men would either be offered a psychiatric intervention which may not be appropriate or would be at risk of ending their life.

They believe collaborating with friends and family during the intervention will save lives and they encourage the men using their service to nominate their supporter who James Place will actively engage with.

Past service users have said: “I might not be talking to you now. So that’s the sort of impact that it’s had..”

Another said: “I wasn’t going anywhere…I just had one thing on my mind and one thing only. I wouldn’t have survived.”

James Place was able to help this man who said: “I sit back and I think every day I wish I’d have knew where it was 12 months earlier and I could have introduced my friend to it who unfortunately took his life. So, I mightn’t be sitting here today if I didn’t know where James’ Place was".

Priorities are to evaluate their suicide prevention intervention and to build their capacity, ensuring that they meet the needs of the local population. Also to develop relationships with local stakeholders ensuring their services are available to those who need them and raising their profile in Liverpool for future sustainability.

James' Place relies on fundraising and charitable gestures to help sustain its service, with local and worldwide ventures undertaken, including The World Run, a row across the Atlantic and Liverpool and London Marathons.