The STOP Suicide campaign was introduced across the county in response to the statistic that seventy percent of people who die by suicide in the UK have not been in contact with health services in the year before their death. The cross-sector public facing campaign seeks to empower ordinary people to spot warning signs in those around them – whether that’s a family member, colleague, neighbour or stranger – and start a potentially life-saving conversation about suicide.

STOP Suicide training has gone from strength to strength in 2022 to help create a suicide safer community, giving everyone the confidence to have a life-saving conversation. But there is still more to do.

The approach has been well-received by individuals and communities alike, building a growing community of practice – a true network of over 1000 people trained this year who are passionate about looking out for others in their daily lives. Everyone in our local communities is now being encouraged to join free-to-access STOP Suicide talks and workshops to build collective knowledge and skills in supporting others.

STOP Suicide trainer Kerry Bryant says, “We have been pleased to return to face-to face training but recognise online options allow us to reach many more people. This has resulted in us being able to give shorter talks or ‘taster sessions’ too. There is so much brilliant work happening in our community and so many different organisations and services that are offering support. It is a privilege for people to share their experiences and story with me and to talk openly and honestly”.

“The open courses for members of the public and frontline workers and volunteers have all been quickly booked up and its important we can continue with these”, comments Kerry.

A wide range of workers and volunteers across organisations from social care, domestic violence, homeless workers to library staff and Royal Mail have also attended the training

Feedback is very positive with comments such as:

“This training really hit a nerve, informed, and inspired me and I was able to support someone the very next day when we discussed her own suicidal feelings.  I was the only person who had asked her. it was so incredibly powerful for both of us”.

“Thank you for some useful training, which I will use going forward both at work and in my personal life.  Really pleased I attended!”

“This workshop was comprehensive and compassionate. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Our survey also showed that:

Almost 70% of attendees said that if a person’s words or behaviours suggested they might be feeling suicidal, they would ask directly about suicide. Also, that attendees understood the importance of maintaining their own wellbeing and boundaries to support others.

 This community training compliments Primary Care Suicide Awareness and Response training that also resumed in May 2022, with monthly sessions on the GP Training Hub and face to face sessions available free for GP surgeries.

Dr Emma Tiffin, GP and Clinical Mental Health Lead for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System says; “It’s a real achievement that this year the STOP Suicide campaign has hit the milestone of training over 1000 people in our communities to spot the signs of people struggling with suicidal thoughts.  The training, led by CPSL Mind continues providing different levels of training from free-to-attend taster talks to more intensive workshops for GPs and healthcare staff. The more people in our communities are able to identify a person at risk of suicide, the more people’s lives may be saved.

Anyone struggling to cope with mental health issues and needing urgent help can call Lifeline free on: 0808 808 2121 11am – 11pm every day. Other local support is available via our local dedicated mental health website: www.keep-your-head.com