Increase in male suicides; don't let your GP fob you off . . . ever. Get help and support immediately
Jeremy Ramsden
PROTECTING PROFIT, supporting the food & drink industry with cost effective card payment processing solutions, world class card payment tech hardware, infrastructure & ensuring the highest standards of customer service.
If this article saves just one life, that will mean more to me than any shame, stigma, or embarrassment of sharing the information below with you.
In February 2020, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. This is deep-rooted going back to my childhood. Nothing to do with COVID-19.
My GP surgery, St Lawrence Surgery, over the last 11 months, have been inconsistent and demonstrated a lack of basic humanity.
On 5th August 2020, having made a formal complaint about the surgery cancelling scheduled appointments via text messages, considering the nature of my condition, I received this statement “we have instructed all staff to be much more mindful when texting patients generally, we have also explained that it is imperative that they consider the reason for an appointment when cancelling it”. Having received another message via text, cancelling my appointment dated 31st December 2020, clearly nothing has changed, and the surgery were paying lip service to me 5 months previous.
On Thursday 31st December 2020, Clair Ramsden (my wife), phoned the surgery feeling compelled to book an appointment for me with a doctor without my knowledge. Clair felt that my mental health has deteriorated to such a low level, over Christmas, that she contacted the surgery as a ‘cry for help’. I received a cancellation message via text hours after Clair called the surgery.
The suicide rate for men in England and Wales is at its highest rate for two decades. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found there were 5,691 suicides registered in 2019 and that men accounted for around three quarters of them. The male suicide rate of 16.9 deaths per 100,000 is the highest it has been since 2000 and 3 times higher (per 100,000) than COVID-19 in the last 28 days.
These statistics do not surprise me when, considering the sensitive nature of my condition, I’m treated in such a dismissive and callous manner by the surgery.
I can honestly say that the only reason why I’ve not taken my own life in 2020 is the love and support of Clair, my children and family. However, the surgery doesn’t know what support, if any, I’m getting and, due to how the surgery have treated me (yet again), I could have been another statistic to add to the UK’s mental health crisis.
This conduct is reckless, irresponsible, and potentially fatal.
When it comes to your mental health, never ever leave it to chance. Ensure you get the help you need from your GP or call 111, even 999.
Here are some other useful numbers –
* Samaritans - 116 123
* CALM - 0800 58 58 58
* YoungMinds - 0800 018 2138
* ChildLine - 0800 1111
* No Panic - 0844 967 4848
* SANE - 0300 304 7000
* Get Connected - 0808 808 4994
* FRANK - 03001236600
* SHOUT - text 85258
* Mind – 020 8519 2122
I hope that this post will make a difference, giving anyone living with mental health illness some comfort and the courage not to be fobbed off.
Emotional Awareness Expert - Author, Mentor, & TEDx Speaker: Supporting parents of Teens in Depression with Neurodivergent traits. Plus mentoring self-publishing self-help authors of wellbeing books.
3 年Amazing article and well done for sharing. Although female, these figures are important to me too after my son was suicidal for 12 years. I lived with that stress every day as a parent too. I'm grateful every day that I no longer have to worry about him becoming a statistic. He's been 'my rock' this last year when I went through depression and chronic anxiety after losing my marriage, home and job. Now I've published a book and starting my own business. There is hope for everyone. Keep sharing and keep growing stronger with every challenge you overcome.
Hon Archivist at SSAFA Forces Help
4 年Good for you, Jeremy, and I hope you are now with a more suitable practice. Really well done for speaking out as so many people are at risk.
Supporting driven men who are seeking growth in the areas of purpose, relationship and freedom
4 年Powerful message. Powerful posts. Good to meet you today Jeremy.
PROTECTING PROFIT, supporting the food & drink industry with cost effective card payment processing solutions, world class card payment tech hardware, infrastructure & ensuring the highest standards of customer service.
4 年Liz Obertelli MIEP ?? good to chat this afternoon x
Creating engaging, world-class and expertly optimized content.
4 年I applaud you for doing this. It's always good to see great people doing great things.