Community comes together for suicide memorial event

Article date: 1 December 2023

The suicide memorial event at the Totally Wicked Stadium was supported by suicide bereavement charity Amparo, Papyrus and Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS), City Healthcare Partnerships (CHCP) and St Helens Wellbeing Service, as well as St Helens Borough Council and the Saints Community Development Foundation.

It provided a safe space for those who have lost a loved one to suicide to be together, talk and share the good memories of those they have lost, and an opportunity to connect with available support services.

The memorial event follows the launch of a new strategy in October to eliminate suicides in St Helens Borough. Everyone can play their own part to reduce suicide in the borough via a four-point Stop Suicide pledge.

Making the Stop Suicide Pledge is a personal commitment to prevent suicide by:

• Taking the free online suicide prevention training - which takes just 20 minutes and could save a life - offered by the Zero Suicide Alliance at Free online training from Zero Suicide Alliance
• Downloading the Stay Alive app to help those who have experience suicidal thoughts to stay safe
• Taking the time to check in on three friends, family members, or colleagues, even when you don't think they need it.
• Changing the language we use when discussing suicide to avoid stigma, and be more compassionate and understanding, avoiding phrases like 'committed suicide'. For more guidance on this, visit www.suicidepreventionalliance.org/about-suicide/suicide-language/

Make the pledge.

Councillor Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage, said: "Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy. The devastating loss is felt widely by family, friends and colleagues and communities who may feel that impact in their daily lives for many years. Although there has been some really good progress on reducing suicide in the borough, we need to continue this work.

"Prevention and awareness is of course key, but just as essential is the support services in place for those who lose a loved one to suicide. This memorial event was a small way of uniting those affected by suicide with others who share their experience, providing them with a safe space to remember with fondness the people they have lost and who they were in life, and an opportunity to connect with local support services.

"So much partnership work has gone on in recent years to make sure our residents get the right kind of help, and it's clear this work is had a positive impact on reducing our rates, but we cannot be complacent. With this new strategy and your help by taking our Stop Suicide Pledge, we will push further towards our goal of zero suicides in St Helens Borough."

There is help and support available out there, including 24/7 crisis mental health support and a range of information, services and peer support available.

For training on how to talk to someone who is feeling suicidal visit www.zerosuicidealliance.com/training. Learn more about and download the Stay Alive app.