Award winning men’s charity CALM hosted the first Merseyside and Cheshire Suicide Reduction Summit this week.
CALM, who are this year celebrating ten years as an active campaign in Merseyside, brought together representatives of the Merseyside and Cheshire Suicide Network, ChaMPs (Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Network) and representatives of all Emergency Services and Local Authorities impacted by an incidence of suicide.
For the first time in the North West, organisations were able to draw upon knowledge and experience of others within the network, with the ultimate aim to reduce the incidence of suicide across the Merseyside and Cheshire regions.
Every day three young men in the UK feel that they have no option but to self harm or take their own life. On average, 162 people take their own life in the Merseyside and Cheshire regions.
The work of CALM and other mental health authorities has helped reduced this number significantly over the past ten years, but CALM believe a fully integrated multi stakeholder strategy will aid in continuing this downward trend.
In sharing information and shaping a unified strategy, a synergy amongst the many different organisations and authorities can make a huge impact upon the reduction and prevention of suicide.
Simon Howes, CALM’s Development Co-ordinator – Merseyside said: “As part of 10 Years of CALM we want to add our unique approach to tackling the issue of suicide and inspire some new responses from local authorities and stakeholders.
“We have been working closely with the Merseyside and Cheshire Suicide Network and ChaMPs to stimulate debate surrounding the response and reaction to mental health and wellbeing amongst all stakeholders and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response.
“Every incidence of suicide in our region impacts both on community and the wider economy. Our aim is to engage the partners at the summit in the creation of a Suicide Reduction Charter. Offering a fresh approach to responding and supporting people, taking learning from City of Derry’s Suicide Prevention Strategy (Northern Ireland) – ‘Protect Life’, which has proven success.”
Colin Vose, Chair of the Merseyside and Cheshire Suicide Network said: “Suicide is a tragedy both for the individual, for their loved ones and for society; suicide can be prevented by ensuring people engage by promoting protective factors in individuals and communities.
“We as a society all have a part to play in the reduction of suicide. Our aim for the summit is to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders to create a community in which we can all proactively reduce the numbers of people who feel they have no option than to take their own life. Our aim simply is to save lives.”
Suicide accounts for the deaths of more young men, aged 15-35, than any other single cause over the last 5 years. More men have died from their own hands in the last 5 years than have died in road accidents, drugs or AIDs and CALM, working together with regional representatives, aims to change that.
www.thecalmzone.net
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