The Ted Senior Foundation works to prevent suicide through tackling stigma and championing good mental health. The foundation was set up in loving memory of Ted by his close friends and family after he very sadly took his own life in 2018. They work to support both local and national suicide prevention and mental health organisations and events and have recently launched the ‘Ted’s Friends’ initiative. The Ted’s Friends Initiative works to improve the peer support available for university students by setting up a network of mental health champions across all University sports clubs. Offering exceptional training and support, this mental health champion will act as a port of call for their team members, ensuring that everyone knows they have someone they can reach out to if ever they’re struggling with their mental health. To learn more about the Ted Senior Foundation please see here and to learn more about the Ted’s Friends program please see here.
Our Partnership
We were delighted to have the Ted Senior Foundation join us in recording a SASP podcast episode in which they shared information surrounding the work of the foundation, including thoughts around their plans for the Ted’s Friends project, and how they hope it will improve the lives and mental health of students through University sports societies across the UK. Leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day 2020, we will also be partnering with them to share a new page on the SASP website which focuses on information and support for individuals that have lost a loved one to suicide during their time at University. We have partnered to share this page to help support students in understanding how they can access support while away from home.
Why is this work important?
This work is incredibly important because we know that people bereaved by suicide are 65% more likely to attempt suicide themselves. Mental distress that is often experienced by many University students caused by factors such as life transitions, academic pressures, financial concerns and social pressures, can further negatively affect the mental health of an individual bereaved. Because of these factors, making sure that University students affected or bereaved by suicide have access to/ know where to access appropriate support is incredibly important. Initiatives such as Ted’s Friends, are an incredibly important part of this; allowing students opportunities to be more open in their discussions surrounding mental health.