Ruth du Plessis, the lead Director of Public Health for Suicide Prevention and Mental Wellbeing, and the multi-agency Cheshire and Merseyside Suicide Prevention Partnership, hosted a Cheshire & Merseyside World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) webinar on the 10 September 2024 for 142 delegates.
The Cheshire and Merseyside system continues to drive the aspiration for Cheshire and Merseyside to be a region where all suicides are prevented, where people do not consider suicide as a solution to the difficulties, and where people have hope for the future.
In support of this, the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) theme for 2024, ‘Changing the narrative surrounding suicide’, was utilised to galvanise our efforts around reducing suicides.
The IASP also issued a call to action: “Start the Conversation.” This call encourages individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide.
Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a more supportive and understanding society. In Cheshire and Merseyside, we can address these areas and work collaboratively across sectors, creating a more supportive and compassionate society where suicide is preventable, and everyone feels valued and understood.
Contributors to the WSPD event included Mike Palmer from 3 Dad’s Walking, Allison Furlong from Alfie’s Squad and a member of the Cheshire and Merseyside Lived Experience Network (LEN). All three spoke passionately about their work in suicide prevention, outlining their lived experience, why they speak out about suicide, what their motivation is for being part of this work and why changing the narrative about suicide is so important.
They outlined how there should be investment in our young people early through the school curriculum, teaching them how to look after themselves and how to seek support and smash the stigma about suicides, building resilience for their futures enabling our young people to thrive.
Children who have lost a parent to suicide need support as they grow up, with a safe space to talk about suicide and not ignore it, and to build friendship groups. Alfie, who set up Alfie’s squad as a bereaved young person himself, gave a video address where he talked about how much his organisation means to those that are part of it.
The LEN member described their lived experience and how professional support, and support from a local Crisis Café along with other support services, had benefited them enabling them to continue employment within mental health sector.
The event closed with the host, Ruth du Plessis, recognising that hope for the future is key and that listening and having conversations about concerns and about the impact of suicides is of paramount importance, and how connecting with system leaders about the impact of suicides is an absolute must.
Feedback from delegates on the day was extremely positive and people shared their own thoughts and call to action:
‘What inspirational people speaking today. Thank you for sharing such personal stories with us all.’
‘I will continue to talk openly and frankly about suicide and encourage others to do so.’
‘Continue to lobby government to invest in our children’s mental health and wellbeing.’
‘Thank you so much for your bravery and vulnerability today it was really inspiring, and it has definitely shifted my perspective more so about the realness and the importance of listening and being aware.’
‘Thank you, too all the speakers, and to Alfie for his video. I will be exploring how we address reducing stigma and embed lived experience through my role in civil service.’
‘Having spent many years attending the Coroners Court to assess suicides, it is excellent to see that lived experience groups are now in existence, to help us to truly understand the emotions and fears that service users feel and how we can best use this information to shape services and support in the future. Excellent session.’
The updated Suicide Prevention Partnership website for professionals working in the area of suicide and self-harm will be launched with a range of resources during September. The new Kind to your Mind website, for members of the public to find the right mental wellbeing support services across Cheshire and Merseyside, will launch on World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2024.
