Papyrus UK

Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, also known as Papyrus UK, is a British charity which aims to reduce the number of suicides among young people.[1] It was founded in 1997 by a group of parents whose children had taken their own lives.[2] It was founded as Parents' Association for the Prevention of Young Suicide, from which the name Papyrus is derived.[3]

In 2017, as part of a campaign "Save the class of 2018", Papyrus produced a guide for schools and colleges on suicide prevention.[4] In 2022, Universities UK worked with Papyrus to produce guidelines on suicided prevention for universities.[5]

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day in 2021, the animation studio Blue Zoo created an animation, Sinking Feeling, for Papyrus "about a young person’s desperate struggle with life", in place of their usual annual creation of a comedy short.[6]

The then Home Secretary Sajid Javid gave a speech in June 2022 at Papyrus's headquarters, after chairing a round-table discussion, in which he spoke of his brother's suicide and said he had "heard heart-breaking tales of love and loss but also inspirational stories of the work being done to divert people from this painful path, including, of course, the work of Papyrus here".[7] As of June 2024 they have raised over £1.4 million for Papyrus.[8]

3 Dads Walking

Three men whose daughters had killed themselves joined together as 3 Dads Walking to raise funds for Papyrus and awareness of youth suicide. They have carried out long-distance walks to raise funds, and published a book Three Dads Walking: 300 Miles of Hope (2024, Robinson: ISBN 978-1472148445). The three, Andy Airey (father of Sophie), Tim Owen (father of Emily) and Mike Palmer (father of Beth), were appointed MBE in the 2024 Birthday Honours, each described as "Fundraiser, 3 Dads Walking for Papyrus UK" and recognised "For services to the Prevention of Young Suicide."[9][10] Their initial walk was a 300-mile (480 km) route from Cumbria via Greater Manchester to Norfolk, linking their three homes.[11][12] In 2022 they walked over 600 miles (970 km) between the four parliaments of the United Kingdom, from Belfast to London via Edinburgh and Cardiff, urging the governments to include suicide prevention in the school curriculum.[13][14] In 2024 their "Walk of Hope" of 500 mi (800 km), from Stirling to Norwich, visited the east coast for the first time and included several of Papyrus's newly-opened offices which their fund-raising had helped to support.[15][16]

An early day motion passed by the House of Commons in 2022 expressed support for their "brave, tireless and selfless campaigning", noted that suicide is the major cause of death among under-35s in the United Kingdom, and called on the government to imbed suicide awareness in the school curriculum and increase mental health traininig for education staff.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, registered charity no. 1070896". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
    "PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, SC052556". www.oscr.org.uk. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Who We Are". Papyrus UK: Suicide Prevention Charity. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Who we are" (PDF). Papyrus. 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  4. ^ Biggs-Davison, Harry (18 November 2017). "Losing a child to suicide is devastating. Schools can help prevent these tragedies". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  5. ^ ""Trusted contacts": new UUK guidance for suicide-safer universities". www.farrer.co.uk. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Animation Shares Hope in World Suicide Prevention Day". UK Screen Alliance. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  7. ^ Javid, Sajid (24 June 2022). "Health and Social Care Secretary of State speech on suicide prevention". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  8. ^ "MBE honours for the 3 Dads Walking". Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  9. ^ "No. 64423". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2024. p. B15. (Airey)
    "No. 64423". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2024. p. B22. (Owen, Palmer)
  10. ^ Manning, Johnny (14 June 2024). "Three Dads Walking: Fathers appointed MBEs in King's Honours List". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  11. ^ "The Route". 3 Dads Walking. 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Three Dads Walking: Trio complete 300-mile walk". BBC News. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  13. ^ "UK2022". 3 Dads Walking. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Three Dads Walking: Trio complete UK-wide challenge". BBC News. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  15. ^ "3 Dads Walking". 3 Dads Walking. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Three Dads Walking begin latest challenge for suicide awareness". BBC News. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Three Dads Walking campaign and suicide-awareness and mental health first aid in educational settings". Early Day Motions. UK Parliament. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.


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