Did you know here at CPSL Mind, we run a STOP Suicide campaign? Our campaign focuses on raising awareness about suicide prevention by providing training, removing the stigma surrounding suicide, and sharing resources throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It aims to create a suicide-safer community where everyone gets involved in suicide prevention. Every year on World Suicide Prevention Day, we join the conversation – this year, our campaign’s aim is ‘one conversation can change a life.’
Before we reveal how one conversation can change a life, we’ve pulled together a guide to help you understand what World Suicide Prevention Day is.
What is World Suicide Prevention Day?
According to the World Health Organization, “World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). The 10th of September each year focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organisations, government, and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented. ‘Creating hope through action’ is the triennial theme for the World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 – 2023. This theme is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us.”
Here at CPSL Mind, we believe everyday should be World Suicide Prevention Day. However, this event is a chance for the world to come together to highlight the importance of suicide prevention by supporting people having suicidal thoughts and challenging the stigma around suicide.
How CPSL Mind is getting involved
STOP Suicide is launching a campaign on how ‘one conversation can change a life.’ As well as spreading the message across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we will be providing training and information to individuals to help support someone at risk. We’ve had the chance to talk to two of our Campaign Makers Zoe Crawley and Tom Gosling, who have spoken to us about the importance of asking directly about suicide and how STOP Suicide training has helped them have difficult conversations.
Campaign video
The campaign aims to:
- Spread awareness about suicide prevention.
- Reduce the stigma and spread the message around the local community.
- Get everyone involved in promoting suicide prevention through training and sharing resources.
Our STOP Suicide trainer, Kerry Bryant, will also be running a training workshop for 100 Primary Care staff members.
She explained, “STOP Suicide training emphasises the importance of fostering open dialogue, and connecting individuals to professional help when needed. Through this training, attendees become not just informed but also empathetic and proactive, capable of initiating a conversation that has the potential to save a life.
Kerry added, “Ultimately, STOP Suicide training transforms attendees into advocates for mental well-being, ready to make a profound difference with a single conversation.”
How you can sign up for training?
Did you know that our training team runs free-to-attend STOP Suicide workshops? These suicide prevention workshops help you understand how to:
- Have a conversation about suicide
- Support someone at risk
- Keep yourself safe
If you’re interested in learning more on how to identify a person at risk of suicide and to equip yourself to support that individual to stay safe, you can sign up for the workshops here.
Alternatively, here are some other ways to get involved in the campaign.
