World Suicide Prevention Day

Beacons of green light will shine out across Essex as landmarks across the area join the campaign to encourage us all to think about how we can support suicide prevention.

In Essex alone, in 2019, 111 people took their own life so from 5th -10th September, organisations, people and communities across Essex are lighting up buildings and landmarks green, the colour of the world suicide prevention campaign, as part of the ‘Creating hope through light’ event.

This year we want to raise more awareness for suicide prevention and challenge Essex residents to take the FREE 20minute suicide prevention training, which can be accessed at www.letstalkaboutsuicideessex.co.uk.

It’s a joint initiative from Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System and Thurrock and Brentwood Mind and is part of their #LetsTalkAboutSuicideEssex campaign. It’s aimed at reducing the stigma around talking about suicide and encourages people to take the free online suicide prevention training, as well as highlight other mental health resources available in mid and south Essex.

The suicide prevention training focuses on three key elements see, say, signpost. See the problem, say the words, signpost to support and it gives people the knowledge and the confidence to talk to someone who might be at risk of or thinking about suicide.

Alfred Bandakpara-Taylor, Deputy Director Adult Mental Health for NHS Mid and South Essex said: “Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom in men under 50. Suicide is a preventable and avoidable death.

Our ambition is to ensure we do all we can to reduce those numbers and prevent the devastating and permanent impact on families, loved ones and local communities. We hope this campaign will get more people talking about suicide to break the stigma. We want to encourage as many people as possible to take the free training so they can support someone in the future who might be at risk of or thinking about suicide.”