Need support? Find help here
Healthwatch Wakefield
Healthwatch Wakefield is the independent local consumer champion in Wakefield district created to listen to and gather local peoples’ experiences of using health and care services. We are a registered charity and provide free confidential advice, support, signposting and advocacy.
How does your organisation contribute to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it?
We work with local people, service users and carers across our district to make local health and care services the best they can be. We act as a voice for them with service providers and commissioners. We work with all ages but have a separate project especially for children and young people. Since our inception in 2013 we have worked on trying to improve local mental health services and have worked on crisis and inpatient services as well as working closely with our voluntary and community sector partners.
What are your current priorities?
– Although our remit is wide we currently have a priority of children and young peoples mental health
– Suicide prevention in children, young people and adults through working with our local strategic partnerships as well as other voluntary and community services
– We provide advice, information, signposting and advocacy for people and their families
What challenges are you currently facing?
Locally there has been an increase in both self harm and suicide in young people. Although stakeholders have come together to do our best to plan and change this, we need to do as much as we can to improve access to the information, support and services that local people need in a constructive way.