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PAPYRUS was chosen as Fieldfisher's new charity partner in London, following an office vote, and will see the two organisations collaborate over the next two years.
With research highlighting that suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK, it is the charity's mission to provide young people, their families and loved ones with the resources and information to help prevent suicide. PAPYRUS provides training to professionals and a confidential helpline to young people and anyone worried about them. It is committed to raising awareness of suicide prevention and promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
The new partnership was launched in November at an event organised by Fieldfisher's Just Purpose (corporate responsibility) team, which oversees all aspects of the firm's community, pro bono, and sustainability initiatives by facilitating skills-based volunteering, fundraising and other projects to bring awareness to societal issues such as disability rights, homelessness, and more.
Speakers at the event included Fieldfisher's Managing Partner, Robert Shooter, Head of Just Purpose, Millie Hawes, and Lauren Elcock, Community Development Officer from PAPYRUS. The session promoted better mental wellbeing and a greater understanding of how we can all safely talk about suicide.
Robert Shooter, Managing Partner at Fieldfisher, said: "Many, if not all, of us have been affected by poor mental health, or have supported a loved one in crisis. That feeling of powerlessness or not knowing how to help can be a universal one. By partnering with PAPYRUS, we want to build a successful two year relationship that breaks the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, and gives us the tools to better support young people."
Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Fieldfisher for supporting PAPYRUS and helping us to continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life. Our confidential HOPELINEUK service offers support and advice to young people and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be having thoughts of suicide. We believe that many young suicides are preventable and together we can all help to keep our communities suicide-safe. We know this partnership with Fieldfisher partners will help to raise awareness and save lives.”
Millie Hawes, Head of Just Purpose at Fieldfisher, said: "Wellbeing is something we should all prioritise. Too many lives are lost to suicide; we all need to do more. Our goal is to support people experiencing mental ill-health while equipping ourselves in how to create suicide safer communities. The PAPYRUS launch was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the work PAPYRUS does and how we, as a firm, can help. We look forward to working with them, to bring about lasting change, and shed light on an issue that affects us all but gets rarely spoken about."
In 2021, there were 5,583 people (of all ages) that died by suicide in England, hundreds of whom were children from the ages of 10-19. PAPYRUS campaigns to change this at a local and governmental level as many of these deaths could have been avoided.
Over the next two years, Fieldfisher will provide training with PAPYRUS to better equip people in suicide prevention, how their loved ones can spot the signs, and the best way to provide support for someone who may be struggling.
If you are under 35, you can call the PAPYRUS HOPELINE on 0800 068 41 41. This is a free and confidential call, text and email lifeline for young people experiencing thoughts of suicide and helps concerned others who are worried about somebody close to them. HOPELINE is open from 9am to midnight, every day of the year. You can contact them on:
- Call: 0800 068 4141
- Text: 07860 039967
- Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, you can call Samaritans on 116 123.