World Suicide Prevention Day: working together to prevent suicide

Currently one person every 90 minutes dies by suicide in the UK and approximately two thirds of these are not in contact with mental health services. 

This is why health and care partners in Coventry and Warwickshire marked World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on Tuesday 10 September to raise awareness of resources and services that provide vital help, and to create a culture of kindness in the region. 

For the second year in a row, the theme for WSPD was ‘working together’, emphasising the importance of collaboration and recognising that everyone can make a contribution in preventing suicide.

To mark the day, a series of partnership events were held across the region hosted by the suicide and mental health services that are available to residents. The events offered residents a chance to start conversations around suicide, focusing on early warning signs, coping strategies and provided information and support on looking after your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. 

The partnership also launched the Stay Alive app, a free suicide prevention pocket resource designed to be a lifeline for people at risk of suicide, or for those concerned about the safety of someone. It contains local mental health and suicide prevention information all in one place, as well as customisable features like the LifeBox to store photos and memories and reasons for living. Designed for everyone, this is an easily accessible and supportive app aimed to keep minds at ease. Please consider putting information about this app in your newsletters. Find out more about the Stay Alive app here: http://ow.ly/2hwM50vT4L8 

For information about a range of mental health and wellbeing services, including face to face, telephone, online and self-help resources available in Coventry and Warwickshire, please visit: warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth, www.coventry.gov.uk/mentalhealth or www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk

If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free at any time, from any phone on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the nearest branch. Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.