CALM Frequently Asked Questions
Posted on March 2, 2016
This year, the team at Courtley have committed to supporting CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). They aim to do this by raising awareness amongst the construction industry, through the various channels of communication available to them.
The below FAQ is taken from CALM’s website. It gives an insight into the important work that CALM are doing. If you have any questions, or stories that you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to contact Courtley ([email protected]) or CALM directly (contact details below).
CALM FAQ
Why only men?
In 2013 there were 6,233 suicides in the UK, of which, 78% (or 4,858), were male; and suicide currently stands as the single biggest killer of men aged 20-45 in this country. The ratio of male to female suicide has shown a sustained rise over the last 30 years. In 1981, men accounted for 62% of suicides in this country. This rose to 70% in 1988, 75% in 1995 and hit 78% in 2013. (Source: ONS).
We want to make people aware that suicide is a gender issue; we want to challenge the social constraints preventing men from seeking help when they need it, and we want to support those affected by suicide and depression. Even though we are focused on men, we take calls to our helpline and web chat from anyone. It’s our belief that all of us, at one time or another, regardless of gender, will hit a crisis and we could all do with specialist help when things go wrong.
Why are the statistics for men so high?
We believe that there are social and cultural barriers that prevent men from speaking out. From feedback we’ve received, and research conducted, men often say that they don’t feel comfortable expressing how they feel if they’re having a shit time, as they’re expected to be strong at all times; and not being so equates to weakness, or failure, as a man.
What services do CALM offer?
We take over 4,000 calls to our helpline each month, around 80% from men, and 20% from women. We launched web chat in August 2014, which is going from strength to strength. This has replaced our texting service, which has now closed. Our website is filled with articles, stories and experiences which are there to both entertain and inform; they are written by men and for men. Our website also contains a database of local agencies for guys to find more specific supports on particular issues. Our free quarterly men’s magazine, CALMzine, is available at Topman stores across the country, and is stocked in other independent retailers: record stores, comedy clubs, gyms in London.
When is your helpline & web chat open?
Our helpline and web chat services are open from 5 pm to 12 am (midnight) every day of the year. National: 0800 58 58 58; London: 0808 802 58 58. Calls are confidential and anonymous. Calls to the London number are free from landlines, payphones and all mobiles. Calls to the national number are free from landlines, payphones and from all mobiles. Calls won’t show up on phone bills.
What happens when someone calls the helpline?
We offer a friendly ear to listen, and we will talk through any issue a caller wants to talk about. Out trained helpline workers will then work towards creating a positive action plan for the caller, which will include signposting to local and/or national services. All calls are confidential and anonymous. We will never ask for names or addresses.