COVENTRY and Warwickshire organisations are joining forces to spread awareness of local and national suicide prevention services at a special event tomorrow.
September 10 is Suicide Prevention Day and an ideal time to highlight the services in place to prevent people taking their own life.
Three years ago, suicide rates were increasing in Warwickshire and Coventry, but suicide prevention funding was secured from NHS England and Public Health England which has given a much-needed boost to local services.
The programme is headed by health, social care, primary care, and voluntary and community sector organisations.
Medical Director at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, Dr Sharon Binyon, said she had seen the positive strides that had been taken in the sector over the past three years.
“Three years on from the start of our suicide prevention programme, we were keen to share the positive strides we have made and explore ways in which we can continue to work together to prevent suicides and improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our local population.
“We’re proud of some of the projects which have been established, including the suicide prevention website www.dearlife.org.uk, Safe Havens, evidence-based mental health awareness and suicide prevention training for non-mental health professionals, and groups for those whose mental health has been impacted by drug and alcohol addiction, to name but a few.
“World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity for local communities, including the NHS and Local Authorities, to come together to raise awareness of suicide, the support that is out there, and to encourage people to seek help when they need it.”
Coventry City Councillor Kamran Caan will also be highlighting services.
“The Dear Life website is a fantastic way to help everyone in our city to feel they have somewhere to go for advice at a time they or someone close to them is struggling.
“It is of utmost importance that no-one feels alone, and we would encourage everyone in our community to explore the website and share with anyone that could benefit from support.”
A new, free service jointly funded by Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, called Amparo, has just been launched across Coventry and Warwickshire, providing support to those who have been bereaved or affected by suicide.
Amparo can support anyone who has been affected, whether this is family members, friends, ‘finders’, work colleagues and anyone else affected by a suicide, and can be accessed by calling 0330 088 9255, by emailing [email protected] or through an online referral form available at https://amparo.org.uk/refer/.
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, visit: warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth, coventry.gov.uk/mentalhealth or covwarkpt.nhs.uk
To support Suicide Prevention Day, a stand will be near the Ropewalk Shopping Centre in Nuneaton between 1pm to 3pm on Friday, September 10.
