Evidence of academic and professional standing
The following are a list of the awards, acknowledgements and contributions the Suicide Bereavement UK team have received in the field of suicide prevention and postvention
Dr McDonnell and her team received their fifth commended ‘Make a Difference Award for Social Responsibility’ from the University of Manchester. This was specifically for their work in suicide bereavement and for the impact of the National Suicide Bereavement Survey. Dr McDonnell and her team received their fourth commended ‘Make a Difference Award for Social Responsibility’ from the University of Manchester. This was specifically for their work in suicide bereavement and for the impact of the National Suicide Bereavement Survey. Dr McDonnell was awarded 'Volunteer of the Year Award' 2nd Place (Staff Category), for her voluntary work in suicide bereavement. This includes leading the National Suicide Bereavement Survey pro-bono delivering over 60 presentations to the general public and volunteering at a local suicide bereavement self-help group for several years. Dr McDonnell and her team received their third commended ‘Make a Difference Award for Social Responsibility’ from the University of Manchester. This was specifically for their work in suicide bereavement and for the impact of the National Suicide Bereavement Survey. Angela Samata was awarded her Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship to visit the USA and Japan, to witness best practice in Outsider Art, work made by untrained artists who may also experience mental health challenges. Barry McGale was a member of the team which secured the bid for Londonderry to host the 30th world congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention 2019 Barry McGale received the Roger J. Tierney award from the American Association of Suicidology, for services to suicide prevention. Sharon McDonnell received her second commended ‘Make a Difference Award for Social Responsibility’ award from the University of Manchester. This was specifically for her work in suicide bereavement. The Public Mental Health Leadership and Workforce Development Framework document lists evidence based suicide prevention training currently available in England. The Postvention Assisting those Bereaved by Suicide (PABBS) training which was informed by Dr. Sharon McDonnell and her research team, is listed in this Public Health England document. (PHE, 2016) Dr. Sharon McDonnell was invited to write a post on suicide bereavement on the University of Manchester Policy Blog. Liz Koole was awarded a Churchill Travel Fellowship to research services for families bereaved by suicide in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Public Health England launched ‘Help is at Hand: Support After Someone May Have Died by Suicide’ document at Manchester’s 4th Suicide Bereavement conference, organised by Sharon McDonnell. Sharon McDonnell was a member of the advisory group which was involved in developing ‘Help is at Hand: Support for Those Bereaved by Suicide or Traumatic Deaths’ (PHE, 2006) Sharon McDonnell and her research team (which included Barry McGale) developed evidence-based theory-driven suicide bereavement training to guide health professionals how to respond to parents bereaved by suicide. The training has been informed by a three year study funded by the National Institute for Health Research and is first of its kind internationally. Barry McGale jointly presented the bid to hold 2019 international Association Suicide Prevention (IASP) Congress in Derry at the 2015 IASP conference held in Montreal, Canada. Dr McDonnell received her first commended ‘Make a Difference Award for Social Responsibility’ from the University of Manchester. This was for her work in the field of suicide bereavement Sharon McDonnell was runner up in the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Award, Public Engagement category (nominated on behalf of the School of Medical and Human Sciences at the University of Manchester) Sharon McDonnell’s research was referred to in a parliamentary debate entitled ‘Male Suicide and International Men’s Day’ (Hansard, 2015) "We have to look at how we support families, including families of men who die by suicide—I concede that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. How do we support families and communities? For those who wish to understand how we can support those families, I recommend the excellent work of Sharon McDonnell at the University of Manchester" - Madeleine Moon (MP for Bridgend) Barry McGale represented Western Health & Social Care NHS Trust at the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre, Zero Suicide Academy, Baltimore USA. Sharon McDonnell was awarded a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship to visit Australia and New Zealand to identify good practice in postvention. Barry McGale’s contribution both nationally and internationally in the field of postvention was acknowledged in a parliamentary debate (Hansard, 2013) "The Trust has a Suicide Liaison Officer, Barry McGale, who does not just work well locally, but is globally active and is part of progressive policy-pushing network on the subject. When people spoke about the Derry model, part of what they meant was that suicide liaison service" - Mark Durkan (MP for Foyle) "I recommend that the Minister read the work of Dr. Sharon McDonnell … She has researched how health professionals … interact with bereaved families … I urge the Minister to discuss not only the changes that she has identified as necessary but how we can move forward and ensure that we change families’ experience." - Madeleine Moon (MP for Bridgend)2020
University of Manchester
2019
University of Manchester
Volunteer of the Year Award, Staff Category, 2nd PlaceUniversity of Manchester
2018
University of Manchester
University of Manchester
2017
Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship Award
2016
Public Health England
Sharon McDonnell and Barry McGale are members of the expert reference group which helped to develop Public Health England’s suicide bereavement pathway document entitled 'Support After Suicide: A Guide to Providing Local Services' (PHE, 2016).International Association for Suicide Prevention
American Association of Suicidology
University of Manchester
Public Health England
University of Manchester
2015
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Public Health England
Public Health England
National Institute for Health Research
International Association for Suicide Prevention
University of Manchester
Greater Manchester Clinical Research Awards
Hansard
Zero Suicide
2013
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Hansard
2012
Hansard
The Minister of Health and Social Care was advised to read Sharon McDonnell’s research on how to support people bereaved by suicide in a parliamentary debate which focussed on the investigation of suicides, (Hansard, 2012).
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120313/halltext/120313h0002.htm#12031355000001NHS North West
Sharon McDonnell and Reagan Blythe, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust received a NHS North West Regional Innovation Sharing and Learning Award to subsidise the annual suicide bereavement conference.University of Manchester
Sharon McDonnell received an ‘Investing in Success Award from the President of the University of Manchester to develop her research in the newly developing field of suicide bereavement.The Florence Nightingale Foundation
Barry McGale was awarded the Florence Nightingale Scholarship for ‘An Examination of Suicide Postvention Practices in Australia for Families, Communities and Professionals’
http://www.florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/content/page/170/2008 - 1999
Department of Health
Sharon McDonnell was a member of the advisory group which developed ‘Help is at Hand: Support for Those Bereaved by Suicide or Traumatic Deaths’. (DH, 2006)
http://cebmh.warne.ox.ac.uk/csr/helpisathand_march2010.pdfPeople to People Ambassador Programme
Barry McGale was the Irish representative on ‘People to People Ambassador Programme’ to Cuba to review mental health servicesNHS
Sharon McDonnell was awarded a NHS Research & Development Research Fellowship to conduct her PhD, which focussed on the experiences of parents bereaved by suicide.
For more information contact:
Dr Sharon McDonnell
Tel: 01706 827 359
Email: sharon.mcdonnell@suicidebereavementuk.com