Suicide and Debt: How to better support people who have suicidal thoughts

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Suicide and Debt: How to better support people who have suicidal thoughts

By The Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol

Date and time

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:30 - 16:00 GMT+1

Location

Hepple Lecture Theatre

School of Geographical Sciences University Road Bristol BS8 1SS United Kingdom

Description

This workshop is the first in a series of four events exploring the relationship between finance and mental wellbeing. In this first seminar, we explore the links between financial difficulties and suicide.

Both problem debt and mental health problems are risk factors for suicide. Independently these factors are key determinants of suicide, but when combined the risk factor rises considerably.

Our recent survey of the debt collection industry showed that one-in-four frontline debt collection staff had seriously believed in the past 12 months that at least one customer may take their own life. Across the 1,200 frontline staff who completed the survey there were almost 700 occasions where this was the case. Each of these occasions represents an opportunity to help prevent the loss of a life.

This workshop will tackle the question: How can we effectively train and support frontline staff working in debt advice agencies, creditor organisations and debt collection companies?

During the workshop we will hear from Dr David Crepaz-Keay (Mental Health Foundation); Chris Fitch and Jamie Evans (authors of PFRC’s recent publication ‘Vulnerability: a guide for debt collection'); and Dr Maria Barnes (School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol). In small problem-solving groups we will interrogate these perspectives, and generate impactful actions that participants can progress either individually or collaboratively.

A buffet lunch will be provided from 12.30pm. The workshop starts at 1pm.

Organised by

The Personal Finance Research Centre is an independent research centre that specialises in social research across all areas of personal finance, mainly from the consumer's perspective. Much of our work focuses on the following areas:

  • Financial confidence, capability and wellbeing.

  • Money management and decision making.

  • Financial exclusion and inclusion.

  • Credit use and over-indebtedness.

  • Saving and retirement planning.

Our interdisciplinary team combines extensive empirical research skills with a detailed understanding of a range of social policy issues. Our work is influential in shaping public policy, and we provide technical and policy advice to government departments and others.

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