Unique service
Families and Friends Affected by Murder and Suicide (FAMS) provides a unique, free and confidential peer support range of services to people in distress and their families.
FAMS befrienders will have personally experienced the loss of a loved one through murder or suicide, or experienced the distress caused by suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
Fams’peer support services can be accessed by a home visit, one-toone or group support, telephone, email and Skype.
FAMS also offers a range of suicide prevention and awareness training, free of any charge.
With an office in Yarrow Crescent, Coltness, the charity works in close partnership with several local specialist agencies INCLUDING:VANL,VASLAN, See Me, MAF, Breathing Space, Lanarkshire Links, Carerstogether, Blameless, Choose Life and Police Scotland.
FAMS originally offered support to people affected by murder and suicide.
Since 2013, however, it has had only two referrals relating to murder.
All referrals, mainly from Wishaw GPS, have been predominately from families and friends of people affected by suicide, or suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
“It is an indisputable fact that people bereaved by murder and suicide often experience suicidal thoughts and behaviour,” explained co-founder Ann Marie Cocozza.
“Our experience shows that the impact of traumatic grief can lead to a sharp decline in mental and physical health. Additionally research indicates the possibility of early mortality.”
There were 728 suicides registered in Scotland 2016, compared to 672 in 2015.
The suicide rate for men was more than two-and-a half times that of women.