A new campaign to ‘Shine a light on Suicide’
A new campaign has been launched to encourage people in Greater Manchester to talk about suicide, the biggest killer of men under 49 and women aged between 20 to 34 in the region.
- Over 200 people take their own life in Greater Manchester each year
- Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 49
- 1 in 5 of us has thought about suicide at some point
- Suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 15–29 years
“enough is enough”
More than 200 people a year take their own life in Greater Manchester and leaders across the city region have today said “enough is enough” and that “it’s time to break the stigma of talking about suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicide bereavement”.
It follows research and evidence among people who have considered suicide, that talking honestly and openly about suicide helped to save their lives.
The #shiningalightonsuicide campaign has been created to prevent suicides and aims to take the subject out of the dark by encouraging everyone across Greater Manchester to talk openly about suicide.
On Wednesday, May 1 the ‘Shining a Light on Suicide’ campaign was officially launched at the University of Salford, Digital Performance Lab (theatre), MediaCityUK.
During the event, hosted by DJ, writer and mental health campaigner Dave Haslam, guests heard from speakers, attempt survivors, those who have been bereaved and organisations which work to prevent suicide.
Panellists included Danny Sculthorpe, former England rugby league player, Sacha Lord, founder of the Warehouse Project and Parklife Festival and night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester with a special focus on the mental health and wellbeing of staff, Donna Thomas, CEO of the Anthony Seddon Trust and a bereaved mother, and Angela Samata, Co-author of Save A Life Training and BAFTA nominated presenter of the BBC’s Life After Suicide film, who lost her partner to suicide.
“it’s time to break the stigma of talking about suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicide bereavement”
The #shiningalightonsuicide campaign has been commissioned by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and is supported by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and all the partners including NHS, councils, police, fire, emergency services, armed forces’ veterans, voluntary and community groups such as LGBT and Samaritans and many others.
Saddleworth Life will be bringing more updates and information surrounding this campaign as and when.
To find out more please visit Shining a light on Suicide
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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