World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 aims to 'create hope through action'

The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria, along with partners including Lancashire County Council, are coming together to encourage everyone to share their experiences and to have the confidence to act in preventing suicide.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘creating hope through action’, urging everyone to think about what they can do to make it easier for a friend, family member or a colleague to talk about their feelings and worries.

County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said: "Helping those around you with support and encouraging loved ones, friends or colleagues who may be struggling to seek help can save lives.

"It's very important to break down the taboo around depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts. "We all need to have open, honest conversations about our feelings and it's important to check in on those around you.

"We know that loneliness and social isolation can have a very negative impact on people's mental health and wellbeing. In July 2023, Lancashire County Council's Cabinet approved proposals to award a total of £100,000 across a range of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to address loneliness in the over 50s. The first step that you can take is reaching out to support those you know, especially if you think they could be lonely or struggling."

Helen Parry, a clinical network manager and suicide prevention lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “Tackling the stigma around suicide and encouraging help-seeking behaviour can save lives.

“It isn’t easy for people to talk about their feelings and discuss what is troubling them, but showing you care can be enough to start the conversation.

“World Suicide Prevention Day is a great way to highlight the issue, but this is something that we are trying to promote every day. It’s a tough subject, but suicide is everyone’s business.”

Some of the actions people might consider could be setting aside some time and space to listen to someone about their experiences and problems, or looking at what their employer can do to support people that may be struggling.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board are also encouraging people to consider becoming Orange Button holders. The suicide prevention scheme, which launched in September 2020 and has more than 2,500 members, invites people to train to be able to listen to and support people who are having suicidal thoughts and signpost them to appropriate services.

Those with the training typically display their orange buttons on their clothing to let people around them know that they are available to help.

More information about the scheme is available at www.healthierlsc.co.uk/OrangeButtonScheme-1 and the training can be booked for individuals and workplaces by contacting Lancashire Mind.

Helen Parry added: “The Lancashire and South Cumbria region has some of the highest suicide rates across the country, so the need to gain vital skills and knowledge to combat these preventable deaths has never been more important.

“While our holders are not able to counsel people, they can provide comprehensive signposting to relevant services and are empowered to intervene when someone may be having suicidal thoughts.” 

Free and confidential help for anyone affected by suicide is available in Lancashire through Amparo (https://amparo.org.uk/), and in Cumbria through Every Life Matters (https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/), and those having suicidal thoughts, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services. 

Dr Raphael Ogbolu, lead clinician for suicide prevention at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft), said: “While we have seen a slight decrease in the number of suspected cases of suicide over the past four to five years, the number of people losing their lives to it is still too high. It is still a societal issue which leaves behind bereaved families and loved ones suffering immense devastation, grief and guilt.

“Starting conversations is important but so also is knowing where you can go if you feel yourself in a dark place, struggling to cope and thinking of self-harm.

“Here in Lancashire and South Cumbria, you can call our Crisis Line 24/7 on 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services.”