Woman safe following welfare concern report in Ramsgate

Emergency services called to the scene

A woman is safely in the care of health professionals following a welfare concern call in Ramsgate today (November 10).

Police, fire service and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended Victoria Parade this afternoon following the call.

A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called to Victoria Parade, Ramsgate shortly after 2.15pm following concern for a woman in the area. Officers attended the scene and the woman is now in the care of healthcare professionals.”

Get help

Anyone suffering with suicidal thoughts should contact the Samaritans on 116 123.

Alternatively the Release the Pressure campaign urges people to seek help by calling Freephone 0800 107 0160 where support is available from trained and experienced staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The campaign website can be found at www.releasethepressure.uk

A list of community mental health services can also be found on the Live Well website at https://livewellkent.org.uk/in-your-area/thanet/

SpeakUp CIC support group can be found online here and on facebook here

Ramsgate Crisis Cafe open from 6 pm to 9.30 pm on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 34 King St, Ramsgate CT11 8NT and online here

Thanet Safe Haven, Holy Trinity Church, St Mary’s Avenue, Dane Valley, Margate,or ring 07850 655 877 to make an appointment. To access the 24/7 helpline, call: 0800 107 0160.

10 Comments

  1. We need an independent assessment of this particular spot on the Eastcliff.

    Is it the architecture of the site? Is it the historic fact that it is a suicide spot?

    Seriously, the mental health care in this country and particularly in East Kent is appalling, but can we also analyse why this location above the Ramsgate Tunnels seems to facilitate people to choose this spot to contemplate or actually kill themselves, especially the young.

    I am pleased this woman has initially received the attention that she desperately needs and I hope that she doesn’t have to wait weeks and months for long term help. if any.

    Perhaps there are readers who have genuine constructive suggestions.

  2. I’m not sure what could be done to improve it due to its great height. I used to work in the mental health team covering Beachy Head which is probably Britain’s most famous suicide spot. Our suicide rates in Eastbourne were always unfairly skewed as a result of people travelling from other counties to be assured of certain death. The cliffs there aren’t roped off and dont have netting attached as that’s difficult to do with crumbling chalk. There are emergency telephones there linking to the Samaritans (as they have in some other hotspots such as the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol). There are also volunteers and a ranger who keeps a look out for “jumpers” and a hotline the public can call to alert them. There’s lots you can do to make it easier for someone to get help or alert services, which we could probably improve on here. Unfortunately it is difficult to stop someone killing themselves at beauty spots such as cliffs. I’m so pleased on this occasion a tragedy has been averted.

    • That’s very helpful Liz. Especially emergency phones.
      Perhaps the local Police Force who know what has happened before could share this with a Town Task Force to consider the issues.

  3. She will or would have to wait Months for any help for mental health like I have done in fact its coming up two years.
    I have often thought I go up a cliff top anywhere and say i am going to jump , help straight away.
    I would not knock the area myself there are many others.

    • It’s not a criticism of the area at all. But there must be something that could make jumping less likely.

      The emergency phone is helpful as people in distress don’t often need their mobile if they intend to jump.
      Additional lighting at night, thinking about the platform beyond the fence. Music. Who knows.

  4. Yes, I know what you mean Paul. It depends what kind of help you’re waiting for but generally any longer term therapy can take a year or two on the waiting list. But then in theory once you’ve got a psychologist working with you it should be until significant improvement is made. On the other hand, if people are looking for short term support (maybe 6-12 sessions of therapy for moderate anxiety, depression or bereavement) they should be able to get help quickly (i.e. wait weeks rather than years) if the GP refers them to an IAPT service. People can also self refer for free talking therapy via the IAPT scheme if they contact Insight Talking Therapy or Dover Counselling (both cover Thanet). Not a perfect solution as they can’t do any long term support so I hope I’m not adding to your frustration Paul. Maybe just putting it out there for others who may be reading this. Just to clarify, if you threaten to harm yourself it won’t move you any further up the list but just means you have to go through the rigmarole of being contacted by the crisis team or being taken to St Martin’s only to be discharged quickly. I absolutely don’t want to put anyone off those options as sometimes they are sorely needed, but just to reassure you Paul you will get the help you need eventually. Keep going mate. I’m speaking both as the mother of a child who has been waiting 6 months to be treated for psychosis and as a mental health professional. I’ve also been there myself in years gone by needing the support of the beacon so I hear your frustration and wish you all the best. The people working there genuinely care but often their hands are tied x

  5. Thank you , all what you say is true , mine is long term , yes loss of parents that happens its life , loss of Daughter aged 29 who took her own life overdose of pills , three years later wife died cancer aged 51 . It do get a bit much at times but I carry on the best way I can always think tomorrow will be better a good thought for anyone reading this , tomorrow has not been better for me but maybe tomorrow will be and I carry on.
    My thoughts are we will all die one day , that’s for sure so why rush it?.
    I also think if I was standing at a cliff edge i would think of the children who die from no fault of their own , be it babys or any child really and here am i ending my life now , what a twat i am.

  6. A platform would be a good idea i think . They don’t have to be in every place just a notice will be good enough.
    Having been close myself to jumping and that was 47 years ago over the first love of my life , everything like I do not even remember her name now.
    But if I found myself in the same situation would think “well that’s a waste of time ” it not going to do it.
    I am sure I would feel a bit better the next day or maybe week after.

  7. That’s it Paul, you’ve just got to keep a glimmer of hope to keep going. A lot of people who have a serious brush with a suicide attempt don’t go on to actually end their lives. Like you, they may feel differently in the morning or realise there may be something worth living for and that we might as well try to make the most of our short time on earth. I’m sticking around for the ride. You’ve had so much loss – the majority of us would buckle under that. Good luck and I hope help comes quickly as everyone deserves the chance of decent therapy and the relief it can bring xx

  8. Maybe if someone try to do a project like they did in South Korea over the Han River where was the spot with most suicidal people. They changed the lights for colorful ones and that made the mood of people that went there to lull themselves change and they give up on doing it. They reduced a lot the number of suicides there, until the government went and change the lights for normal ones again and the number increased again. Maybe worth some type of study like this?

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