campaign against living miserably
What is CALM?
The campaign against living miserably (CALM) was set up to reduce the high suicide rate amongst men under 35, currently the single biggest killer of young men in the UK.[i] It is a campaign and charity targeting young men with a helpline, magazine and online community, but CALM listens to anyone who needs help or support.
Men are three times more at risk of suicide than young women – in 2010 75% of suicides were men. But while smoking and knife crime make the headlines, suicide is the biggest killer. Most men who take their own lives aren’t in contact with any other agency, and don’t identify with much out there. When asked, what they indicated they wanted was practical, anonymous, confidential help from professionals. Which is why CALM was formed.
CALM began as a Dept. of Health pilot in 1997. It was launched as a charity with the support of the Dept. of Health in 2006 with the support of music impresario and trustee Tony Wilson, who recognised the importance of its vision. CALM’s reg. charity no is 1110621.
How CALM works
There are many reasons why young men need a campaign like CALM. Everyone has their own life, with different interests, circumstances, pressures and problems. But men aren’t supposed to talk about stuff, so it can be hard for them to know where or who to go to for help when life gets on top of them.
CALM promotes and delivers a free, confidential, anonymous helpline and website targeted at all young men, though we will take calls from anyone who needs some advice or support, regardless of age, gender or geographic location. CALM publishes the CALMzine, a bi-monthly magazine of manspiration distributed across Topman stores and select venues across inner London. CALM also have a lively website full of articles to fire you up, make you think, and stories about the exploits of CALM and our supporters. We’re big into Twitter and we love Facebook – come and join us online.
CALMzones
A CALMzone is an area where we work with the local authorities to promote CALM within their area under a Service Agreement. Our local CALMzone Coordinators work with local clubs, community, music and entertainment industries to promote the campaign to young men and provide them with local as well as national information. We have over 10 years experience of this work in Merseyside, and currently are the first port of call of men under 35 who are feeling stressed.
Since we’ve been operating in Merseyside the number of young male suicides has dropped by 55% from 1999-2009 – more than the general decrease regionally and nationally by 20%. There are two CALMzones at present: Merseyside, and London – find out more about our CALMzones, and how you can work with CALM, below.
CALMzine
CALM’s cool and unique take on the men’s lifestyle magazine, CALMzine, is a free publication produced with the support of Topman and available at their stores and select fashion and cultural venues across inner London. To stock the magazine or for more info, contact editor@theCALMzone.net.
Talk to CALM
The helpline is open 5pm-midnight on Sat / Sun / Mon / Tues, every week of the year.
Call 0808 802 5858 within London – or if you’re outside London call 0800 585858. It’s free, confidential and anonymous.
Text 07537 404717, start your first text ‘CALM1’ (service only available within London, until we get more funding). We don’t charge, but your network might.
WHO WE ARE
Patrons
David Baddiel – legendary Comic and Broadcaster
James Scroggs - former MTV VP and council member of the ICA, London
Robin Millar CBE - Record Producer and mentor
Staff & Volunteers
Jane Powell, Director – janepowell@theCALMzone.net
Simon Howes, Merseyside CALMzone Coordinator – simonhowes@theCALMzone.net
Dan Taylor, London CALMzone Coordinator – dantaylor@theCALMzone.net
Lindsey Bezzina, London CALMzone Volunteer Coordinator – lindseybezzina@theCALMzone.net
Yaa Animashaun, Accounts – yaaanimashaun@theCALMzone.net
Rachel Clare, Editor of the CALMzine – editor@theCALMzone.net
Trustees
Ajax Scott - Ajax has spent 20 years in the music and media industries, and is currently training to qualify as a psychotherapist
Dr Elaine Church - Consultant Public Health Medicine NHS Cumbria
Tony Ereira - Treasurer, Executive Director, JP Morgan Chase
Janet Finucane - HMP Manchester, Specialist Commissioning including Bariatrics, Drugs and Alcohol, Long Term Conditions and Personal Health Budgets
David Sweeney - Mental Health Commissioning Manager, St Helens PCT
Maggie Day - Maggie became involved in CALM after her son killed himself. With friends and family Maggie has raised many thousands of pounds for CALM.
Aimee Luther - Account Director at advertising agency Beattie McGuinness Bungay. Long term companion to CALM and bears huge responsibility for encouraging the creation of the charity.
Indra Morris - Director, HM Treasury
Music board
Chair: Ajax Scott – see above
Dan Garber – Promoter and consulant at Record-Play and Cypher PR, who has previously supported CALM through the brilliant Cage Against The Machine and Chazzstock projects
Joe Hutchinson – Musician (Ou Est Le Swimming Pool) , manager and now label boss, who also played a key role in Chazzstock and Cage Against The Machine
Clare Milford Haven – Freelance writer, co-Trustee of the James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund
Robin Millar – Producer extraordinaire
Jeremy Paterson – MD of Frukt, a marketing agency specialising in music and brands
Steve Purdham – CEO of digital music platform We7
Henry Semmence – Founder and MD of Absolute Marketing and Distribution
Eddy Temple-Morris – Producer and presenter of The Remix on XfM, club DJ and artist (Losers), as well as one of the driving forces behind Cage Against The Machine’s Christmas Number One assault
Ben Turner – Ben’s company Graphite represents music properties and artists, and acts as a conduit between brands and the music space
Alison Wenham – CEO of the Association of Independent Music
For more info, get in touch with CALM today
Join the buzz on www.facebook.com/theCALMzone and www.twitter.com/theCALMzone
Email info@theCALMzone.net
Call the CALM London office on 0203 142 613.
Or write to CALM, PO Box 68766, London SE1P 4JZ.
Downloads & Links
CALM Memorandum
CALM Articles of Association
See also Governing Policies
[i] ONS, NISRA, GROS 2010 statistics
