Ripples of Despair - Shining a light on the impact of lives lost to alcohol, drugs, and suicide (2024)
Foreword - Alice Wiseman, Gateshead Director of Public Health
This report includes descriptions of difficulties with trauma, mental health, drug and alcohol use disorders, and deaths caused by alcohol, drugs and suicide. There are anonymised recordings and quotes of real experiences by people who have been affected. We understand that this may be difficult to hear and read.
If something you hear or read connects with you in a difficult way or brings up strong feelings, please know that you are not alone, and support is available.
Welcome to my 2024 annual report as Director of Public Health for Gateshead. Before I start, I want to highlight that the topic of this report has been very challenging to write so I understand it will be very difficult to read. However, this is something we need to talk about as it impacts many people across Gateshead, in very different ways.
In case anyone feels they need additional support; we have provided some links to support services. Please do reach out and don't suffer alone.
Lives lost too soon
The report addresses an issue of profound importance: the devastating toll of deaths caused, in Gateshead, by drugs, alcohol and suicide.
Too many lives in Gateshead are cut short because of alcohol, drugs and suicide. Sadly, we are seeing increasing harm, particularly in relation to drug related deaths. Deaths of this nature are both a consequence and cause of health inequalities. Whilst harm from alcohol, drugs and suicide can affect everyone, those in our most disadvantaged communities are hardest hit.
Hearing from people with lived experience
Numbers and data are not enough to understand this issue properly. Behind each number is a story of lives lost too soon, of loved ones left behind, and of communities grappling with pain and loss - the ripple effects are far reaching - an issue cutting across families, communities, and wider society.
My purpose in writing this report is not only to illuminate the urgent need for change while honouring the humanity which sits behind the data. Threaded through the report are the voices and experiences of people with lived experience.
It is critical that we give those affected the opportunity to share their story and to hear their voice. To understand the journeys they have experienced, and to heed their messages of hope. The need to work together with those who have lived experience to ensure that our plans and services put people and families at the heart of what they do.
Stigma
We have heard how these deaths may evoke feelings of shame, stigma, anger and guilt, adding to the pain and loss of those left behind. We need to address this stigma head on, and we need to understand how the language we use, often without realising, affects the care giver, deter help seeking behaviour and increase isolation.
The need to challenge stigma and reframe our messages around this issue, removing any blame from individuals and instead, acting on the factors that lead to these experiences and inequalities.
Influences
Harm and death by alcohol, drugs and suicide are influenced by a range of complex factors at a societal, community and individual levels including, poverty, inequality, childhood experiences, insecure work and unemployment, homelessness, social and cultural norms (including gender norms), commercial determinants such as alcohol, gambling and social media, relationship break down, domestic abuse and access to services.
Finally, the experience of death, loss and grief is, in itself, a determinant of health, for those bereaved by alcohol, drugs and suicide, the impact may be even greater. There is a need for support after bereavement, and a compassionate town approach to help recognise this, and mitigate the impacts.
Prevention
We need to focus on prevention by continuing our commitment and drive in delivering the Health and Wellbeing strategy, taking action across the eight policy objectives.
Support and recovery
We need to recognise the importance of services in reducing harm and helping people to recover, but the need to ensure we push further upstream in addressing root causes that create the circumstances which make people more vulnerable to these harms.
Conclusion
The challenges we are facing touch us all in some way, reminding us of the urgent need for compassion, understanding and action.
The report aims to set out the complex web of factors driving these tragedies, highlight the hope we have for something different and the action we need to take to get there.
While the path forward is not without challenges, its one paved with hope, hope that together we can create a future where fewer lives are lost and where prevention, support and healing are accessible to all.
To those who have been affected by this, and those who have generously and bravely shared their stories, we see you, we hear you and we stand with you. It is in your honour that we will continue this critical work.