A leading mental health charity has joined forces with Wolverhampton Council’s Public Health service to launch a series of suicide prevention training sessions.
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group has worked closely with the council and the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum and will be delivering a series of 10 sessions for both professionals and community groups.
Melanie Griffin, Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Service Lead at the charity said: “The aim of these sessions is to help people understand that Suicide is everyone’s business and it can affect anyone regardless of factors like age, gender, race, ethnicity or background etc.
“We will be exploring why language matters and the challenges that arise when talking about suicide, as well as identifying the signs that indicate someone may be thinking about ending their own life.
“We also want to encourage safe, supportive conversations around asking about suicide and discuss how to put a safety plan in place for someone thinking about taking their own life. Attendees will also get to find out more about the support services that are available both locally and nationally.”
Online sessions began on February 10 with the next ones due to be held on Wednesday March 16th from 10am to 2.30pm, and Thursday April 7 from 9am to 1.30pm.
Face-to-face sessions will also be held place at Wildside Activity Centre in Hordern Road, on Friday March 18 from 10am to 2pm, Paycare House in George Street March 30 to April 1, each from 10am to 2pm. Two further sessions will be held at St Mary’s Parish Hall in Snow Hill, on April 14 and April from 10am until 2pm.
Spaces are limited and people are advised to book early. Delegates will receive support resources to take away and a certificate of attendance.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “There were over 5,200 deaths by suicide in England and Wales in 2020 – that’s the equivalent of 14 every day.
“The council and its partners are committed to tackling stigma around mental health and suicide, and to highlight the help and support which is available to people who are going through a troubling period in their lives.
“We are offering suicide awareness training to professionals or members of local community organisations, mainly aimed at those who communicate face to face with members of the general public, to give them a better understanding of how they can identify warning signs and how they can offer help and support to people who may be feeling suicidal.”
To book onto a session visit kaleidoscopelus.org.uk or for more information call 0121 565 5605 or email [email protected].
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