Sussex charity on actions to take to prevent suicide
More than 500 people died by suicide in Sussex between 2017 and 2019, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. And an estimated 23,000 people were affected by suicide in Sussex in 2019.
To coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, which took place on Friday (September 10) Sussexbased charity Grassroots Suicide Prevention is encouraging people and businesses to consider taking actions that could save a life.
Training
Grassroots is offering online trainings to support organisations and individuals on how to prevent suicide. The Real Talk trainings offer an opportunity for people to gain the skills and confidence in talking about suicide and deal with the language and feelings that come up.
Stay Alive app
It is also urging people to download the Stay Alive app, the suicide prevention resource is packed full of useful information to help anyone having suicidal thoughts or those concerned about someone who may be at risk. The app has had over 250,000 downloads across 185 countries and has helped 76 per cent of at-risk users stay safe from suicide.
Donate
Or you could support Grassroots with a donation. Your donation could help to save a life from suicide.
Jake Tyler, mental health campaigner and author, said: “It can be really hard to tell someone you’re thinking about suicide. But reaching out can give you hope again. Talking through alternative options helps you realise that you don’t actually want to die – you just don’t want to live the life you have now.”
Rachael Swann, CEO at Grassroots Suicide Prevention, said: “The human cost of suicide to loved ones and communities is devastating. Yet suicide can be prevented with timely intervention.
“At Grassroots we are dedicated to supporting people and organisations to understand that their actions, however big or small, could bring hope to someone who is struggling.”
Grassroots offers expertise and training to organisations and individuals around suicide prevention, mental health and self-harm. Find out about the StayAlive app, access training and free resources or listen to a panel discussion about creating hope through action at: prevent-suicide. org.uk