Coventry and Warwickshire mental health charity says stigma must stop
This World Suicide Prevention Day - a charity hopes to give people across Coventry and Warwickshire the confidence to open up and seek support for their mental health
A mental health charity, which supports over 30,000 people across Coventry and Warwickshire, says there's still a lot of stigma around suicide.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, Mind is encouraging people not to bottle up their feelings.
Research by the Samaritans revealed suicide rates in England and Wales are now at their highest in over 20 years, with one-in-five of people experiencing suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.
Only 45% of people feel comfortable talking to friends and family about their struggles and 46% of the population would not start a conversation on the subject with someone they were concerned about, even if they knew that person was experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Dee Hodgson is the team leader at Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.
She said: “We still hear people saying, ‘pull yourself together, what have you got to be depressed about’. But you don't know everybody’s back story. So it's vital to continue to bring these barriers down, to give people the confidence to open up about how they're feeling. Because it's only then that we can really get some support for that person.
“I would encourage people to continue to reach out because it's only when we talk, we can begin to reduce that barrier. Don't be afraid to talk about how you're feeling.”
She continued: “If you've been affected by a death by suicide, then you please do reach out to us. We have connections with other services that we may be able to help with that support. And statistically, when someone has experienced a loved one that has died by suicide, they are at a greater risk of also taking their own life.
“We want to try and provide that support to bring these numbers down in the first place, but also support the loved ones and those connected with people who have sadly died by suicide.”
Julie Bentley, CEO of Samaritans, said: “While discussing mental health has become more commonplace, there is still a taboo when it comes to suicide that is costing people their lives. We want to change this. By talking more openly about suicide, we can give people the chance to express how they feel and get the support they need. Suicide prevention is everyone’s business and the need to unite efforts across all fronts has never felt so urgent.
“Suicide rates are at their highest in more than 20 years and we are still waiting to hear from the government about what they are going to do to reverse this. We will not stand for more silence on the issue. This World Suicide Prevention Day, the Prime Minister needs to speak up and demonstrate his commitment to suicide prevention with a clear plan of action before more lives are lost.”
More information for support can be found on: www.cwmind.org.uk