SINCE November 1, Holsworthy Police and the North Devon CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) team have been piloting a rapid response suicide intervention scheme to help children, up to the age of 19, and families following the loss of a friend or relative.

The scheme, launched by North Devon CAMHS, who as part of their services, offer free support and advice to children and families following the suicide of a relative or close friend. This support can often be later on in life, after the incident when problems are an after effect.

Phillipa Whittick, a primary mental health care worker for North Devon CAMHS in the Holsworthy and Torrington area, is the inspiration for this new rapid response intervention project.

She explained that it is often hard for families that have lost a close one, through suicide, to talk to their children about the real reason for their death. This because it is "too painful and difficult to have the conversation."

Research has found that as a result, parents/ members of the family may give another story, which could cause problems with mental health later on in life as children do not have a clear account of what happened and therefore it makes it harder for them to grieve.

Anyone can refer someone to CAMHS, whether it is a school; health visitor; nurse; GP; friends or family.

However, Phillipa and PC Amanda Brown have worked together to begin a rapid response which, if given permission from the family, would allow the police, who are usually the first profession on the scene, to pass on contact details to CAMHS within 48 hours who will then contact the child or family who may want help with support and advice.

This advice could include how to tell a child about what happened, which could help to allow a healthy grievance.

Phillipa said that when looking at the most recent statistics from 2007, they found that there were around eleven suicides in the age range of what they expected there would be children and families involved. This was a manageable amount.

Phillipa said the police have been "brilliant" and are "really enthusiastic about it."

She hopes that if the scheme is successful in the North Devon area, it could be something that is rolled out across the UK.

PC Brown believed Holsworthy was the first police force in the area to pilot such a scheme and said it was a purely permission based project which can help people at a "very traumatic time."

PC Brown couldn't believe the time it takes sometimes before a child is referred to CAMHS and added: "We do have suicides in the area and if we can have the option to reduce this, it is an advantageous thing. It is no cost to the police accept a phone call."

The scheme is on a trial basis and will be evaluated and reviewed at the end.

If you want to speak to Phillipa about the scheme or receiving help, please contact her on 07814 116933.