MPs and Peers are calling on ministers to intervene to support the mental health charity sector, following the collapse of youth suicide prevention charity Papyrus which ran the Hopeline247 helpline services.

A letter signed by almost 50 parliamentarians has been written by Sarah Hall, Labour MP for Warrington South, where the charity is headquartered, to health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper.

It points out that the NHS advice directing people to the Hopeline247 service needs updating so that “anyone trying to contact Papyrus receives clear information about where to get help”.

The letter warns that other charities working to prevent suicide are “already working at or close to capacity” and Cooper is urged to “now establish what additional demand they expect following this closure and what funding they need to meet additional demand”.

“We cannot simply assume that existing services have the staff to take on this work,” states Hall’s letter.



Cooper is also urged to look to continue restoring the helpline or transferring it to another provider, with emergency funding made available to keep it running.

Hall and another signatory Wells’ Lib Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills Tessa Munt have also raised the issue in parliament, calling on House of Commons leader Alan Campbell to discuss the charity’s closure with ministers.

“Does the Leader of the House agree with me that this charity’s collapse is catastrophic for younger people, asked Munt, adding, “will he speak to his colleagues about crisis support for young people and young adults immediately?”

Hall has called on Campbell to make time for a health minister to make a statement to the House of Commons about the charity’s closure.

Campbell said: “The news regarding Papyrus is deeply concerning.

“We are entirely committed to suicide prevention, and to ensuring that high-quality mental health support is available, particularly for young people.

“I will reach out to the relevant Minister, as I have offered to, including on behalf of my hon. Friend. Ministers may want to give an update to all Members on this, because it is an issue of such importance.

Staff told suddenly mid shift

Hall’s letter also details how staff at the charity were told about it entering administration during their shifts and that their jobs were ending immediately.

“Come colleagues were supporting people in crisis by phone and text when the announcement was made,” said Hall.

A statement from its administrations Emma Mifsud and Charles Turner of Opus Restructuring & Insolvency said last week that their appointment “follows an extended and extremely difficult period in which the charity’s board of trustees and senior management explored every available option to secure Papyrus’ future”.

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