Reaching out can help to save a life
The‘common cafe’was the focus of this year’s Suicide Prevention Week in Lanarkshire.
Taking a moment to offer a gentle word of support and listening to those who may be struggling emotionally, can make a huge positive difference to someone’s emotional mood and wellbeing.
To promote this type of interaction and intervention and give general advice on good mental health, a series of cafes and events took place in Hamilton and across Lanarkshire last week.
Susan Mcmorrin, NHS Lanarkshire’s senior health promotion officer and suicide prevention lead for South Lanarkshire, said:“people who have lived through a suicide attempt often talk about reaching the point where they could see no alternative but to take their own life, and about the days, hours and minutes leading up to this.
“They often say they didn’t want to die, how they wanted someone to intervene and stop them, and how they actively sought someone who would sense their despair and ask them whether they were okay.
“It proves that taking a minute to reach out to someone – a complete stranger or close family member or friend – can change the course of a life.
“Don’t be worried about not being able to find the exact words or give specific advice.
“It’s often just the compassion and empathy from others that helps to turn things around for someone and point them towards recovery.”
The Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health charity shop in Hamilton’s Cadzow Street was one of the venues for a cafe last week.
Susan continued:“asking after someone doesn’t have to be in a café, it can be anywhere.”
Visit www.elament.org.uk for further information on mental health and wellbeing,
If you are needing support immediately, call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 (Mon-thu, 6pm – 2am; Fri, 6pm-mon 6am) or go to www. breathingspace.scot; Samaritans can be called 116 123 (24hrs) or go to www. samaritans.org; call NHS24 on 111 (out of hours) or go to www.nhs24.com; and call Childline on 0800 11 11 (24hrs) or go to www.childline.org.uk.