Dorset Community Mental Health Alliance

The alliance brings together 31 organisations from the voluntary, statutory and business sectors of Dorset that are passionate about improving people’s mental health and finding ways to prevent suicide. It’s clear people have been under tremendous strain during the last year and we believe a collaborative response will deliver the best outcomes. We meet monthly and aim to convert words into action.

Our work in suicide prevention

We have two subgroups at Dorset Community Mental Health Alliance. One looks at suicide prevention training and organisational strategy. The other seeks to find ways to help people who repeatedly present to emergency services because their lives are at risk. This work will be informed by Real-Time Surveillance data.

We aim to use our collective strength to improve services and transform lives and help prevent suicides in Dorset. We work to dispel stigma and collectively educate Dorset communities about mental health issues. We amplify the voices of lived experience to inform the collective influencing work we do. We work as equal partners with the Statutory Sector and Commissioning Agencies to influence decision making and provide solutions. We prepare for future collaborative service delivery, which may require partnerships. We create opportunity and stability within the VCSE Sector so any individual or organisation can be involved.

Our current priorities

Ensuring the organisations that belong to the alliance are adequately equipped with suicide training so they feel confident they can help someone who reaches out to their organisation for help. Patterns of suicidal ideation are likely to vary across the country so we believe it is essential to consider the Real-Time Surveillance data being compiled by the emergency services In Dorset, when trying to ensure service meet people’s needs. We want to ensure the voice of the voluntary sector and lived experience is heard when new services are being established and commissioned.

Our current challenges

We also hope to establish a Mental Health Charter for Dorset to embed compassion, understanding and support for people with mental health problems in every organisation in the county.