Two councils have joined forces for a new suicide awarness and preventation campaign aimed at educating the public on how they can help.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 14 suspected suicide cases were reported in Hounslow between 31 August, 2023 and 1 September this year.
In response, Hounslow and Hillingdon Councils have partnered to launch the Be Their One Suicide Awareness Campaign, designed to help people to talk to individuals in crisis who may be considering taking their own lives.
Councillor Lily Bath, cabinet member for adult social care, public health, and transformation in Hounslow, said: “People don’t talk openly about mental health as much as they should do.
“I think suicide is one of those tragedies where and even there’s all these myths that if you talk to somebody about suicide, even mention that word you are encouraging them to do it, there’s a lot of myth busting around it that we kind of have to promote.”
The campaign includes free online training from the Zero Suicide Alliance for residents in Hounslow and Hillingdon on how they can help.
The message is simple but powerful: ‘It only takes one person to save a life’
The training provides life-saving information on how to handle situations where someone expresses suicidal thoughts and includes real-life examples to illustrate how individuals can make a difference.
The updated online training offering scenarios and advice on how to have potentially life-saving conversations.
Bath said Hounslow Council had a suicide prevention strategy and had a responsibility, priority and an ambition to make sure all their residents were as well as they could be.
Councillor Jane Palmer, cabinet member for health and social care in Hillington, highlighted the importance of the Zero Suicide Alliance’s free training.
She said: “It provides essential tools to help those in distress and could potentially save lives.
“The campaign demonstrates effective collaboration to ensure residents have access to the health and support services they need.”
The Zero Suicide Alliance initiative aligns with the council’s broader suicide prevention strategy, which is part of their commitment to tackling emotional issues in the community.
Cllr Bath explained the training and campaign are based on evidence and the charity who worked on this training emphasized this was to best approach to try preventing people taking their own life.
She said: “It’s about being there for them, encouraging that person to speak, having that conversation, and then.
“Having the knowledge and information.
“Where to sort of refer somebody or get help for them.”
She also talked about the challenge of hearing from those affected by emotional distress.
Cllr Bath said: “We hear very little from people have this issue.
“People are reluctant to talk about that.
“Emotional health we can get engage with community groups.
“They do not come directly to you.”
Bath advised the community about educating themselves.
She said: “Do not take it for granted.
“You think that people are okay when they may not be.”
While London has one of the lowest suicide rates in England and Wales, the overall number of suicides increased in 2023.
There were 6,069 suicides registered in England and Wales last year – a rate of 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people, the highest since 1999.
NHS England statistics showed a combined 60,360 individuals contacted with mental health services in Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Westminster, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Care Board (ICB) as of July 2024.
For those who need support, the Samaritans are available for free at any time on 116 123 or via their website at www.samaritans.org.
Foto Credit: Hounslow Council
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