Senior leaders from organisations across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have united in their commitment to get behind the countywide ambition to end suicide.
At a STOP Suicide event, hosted by gaming company Jagex and local mental health charity Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind, on World Suicide Prevention Day – 10th September – more than twenty influential figures in local organisations were equipped with life-saving skills as they came together to take the national Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) training.
Steve Mallen, a founding member of the ZSA, then challenged attendees to encourage all staff in their organisations to also take the training before World Mental Health Day on 10th October thus creating a suicide-safer community.
The ZSA training is a free online session which takes just twenty minutes to finish and can be completed by anybody. It aims to enable people to identify when someone is presenting suicidal behaviour, to be able to speak out in a supportive manner and to empower them to signpost the individual to further support.
Aly Anderson, CEO of CPSL Mind, said “Our local STOP Suicide campaign highlights the fact that suicide is everybody’s business. You don’t have to be a mental health professional to identify warning signs and have direct conversations about suicide.
Providing individuals and organisations with suicide prevention skills by sharing the ZSA training is really important in ensuring that our community is well equipped to save lives.”
The partnership between CPSL Mind and Jagex on the STOP Suicide campaign has already been a huge success in raising awareness of suicide prevention across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Their 2018 campaign push created millions of opportunities for people to see clear messages encouraging direct conversations about suicide and their work locally has been shortlisted for three national awards.
Kelvin Plomer, Director of Player Experience at Jagex said: “Jagex is a very proud supporter of CPSL Mind and we are extremely grateful to our staff and our players for supporting our fundraising which enabled the charity to launch the May 2018 Stop Suicide awareness campaign.
CPSL Mind’s commitment to the awareness campaign is ongoing and vitally important as they empower communities to prevent suicides across our region. Today’s event was a key further step in engaging further organisations in their work.”
To take the life-saving ZSA suicide prevention training yourself visit https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/
If you are experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis, there are people who can help you.
People living in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough can access mental health support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via the NHS First Response Service by calling 111 and selecting option 2.
People outside of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are encouraged to call the Samaritans on 116 123. This is also a 24-hous a day, 365 days a year helpline.
Further support can be found via our Get Help Now page.
September 14, 2020
