World Suicide Prevention Day

According to Samaritans, every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide. Suicide is preventable, and interrupting suicidal thoughts through conversation can save lives.

We could all think about reaching out to our friends, family members and colleagues, and checking in on those around us today. This may be through going for a walk, heading out for coffee, or simply sending a text to see how they are. It's often not easy to tell how someone is feeling, but giving them space to talk and listening to what they are saying can make a big difference when a person is struggling. If you're not sure how to start a conversation about mental health, we've got some tips for how to reach out to someone in our blog.

The baton of hope: The UK'S biggest suicide prevention initiative

TALKWORKS staff and volunteers will be joining colleagues from Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) as the Baton of Hope tour arrives in Torbay on Tuesday 30 September. The baton represents a journey of hope – moving away from darkness and moving towards a lighter and brighter future.

There will be a shared stand run by representatives from a number of services across DPT near the Pavilions in Torquay. Members of the local community will have the chance to ask questions, learn more about our services and receive signposting information from 10am to 7pm. We'll also be supporting Sarah from TALKWORKS who will be one of the baton bearers on the day. When asked why she applied to take part, Sarah shared:

“I have worked in the area of mental health for many years and suicide prevention has always been a central part of my work and reason for doing this work. I have been impacted by suicide loss both personally and professionally during the last 30 years. I am passionate about the prevention of suicide and the need for support for those bereaved by suicide. I feel honoured to be part of the event and hope that change comes from raising awareness and encouraging people to talk about suicide. It’s relevant to each and every one of us.”

How to access urgent mental health support

TALKWORKS is not a crisis or emergency mental health support service. If you, or someone you care about, is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available:

• NHS 111 (available 24/7) – select the ‘mental health’ option to be put through to the Devon Partnership NHS Trust First Response service.
• Samaritans – call 116 123 at any time of the day or night  
• If someone’s life is at risk, please call 999 or go to A&E as soon as possible