Initially created to raise awareness about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), and offer Australian acquired information, The Purple Bucket Foundation Inc. (TPBF) has grown, into so much more.
While ongoing education is critical for health professionals and people living with a diagnosis to work together and to create better outcomes for CRPS and Persistent Pain, so is peer support. With our committee members either living with CRPS, Persistent Pain or being the carer of someone who does, The Purple Bucket Foundation (TPBF) can offer peer support to whomever within the CRPS and Persistent Pain community may be needing it.
Accepting an offer to partner with the Australian Pain Management Association (APMA) in June this year, enabled an enormous increase in telephone support services with APMA’s Pain Link 1300 number and call back service. Early discussions between TPBF founder and APMA CEO initiated the formation of our official Suicide Prevention Committee; with training and policy our priorities. However, an email chat service is now active for those not wanting to use the phone, plus committee members are also available through our Facebook pages message option.
Although the available data regarding the suicidal behaviour of persistent pain patients is outdated, it is no less alarming; and patients with CRPS are at higher risk. While we explore possibilities to bring said data up to date; continuing to raise awareness about CRPS and Persistent Pain through several social media outlets, our website, and occasional events; TPBF remains faithful to our founder’s initial goal.
Encouraging hope over fear, and positiveness over negativity, TPBF work toward encouraging a better mindset for those living with and affected by all types of Persistent Pain. Having built respected connections within the sector; TPBF aims to create further collaborations and partnerships as we work towards better mental health and suicide prevention within the CRPS and Persistent Pain communities.
