A WIRRAL mum whose son took his own life spoke of the importance of encouraging people to share how they are really feeling at the launch of a suicide prevention strategy.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP)'s Suicide Prevention strategy is part of a regional and national effort to prevent suicide and focuses on reducing suicide, improving support for people who self-harm and those who are bereaved by suicide.
It was launched during a special event in Ellesmere Port on World Mental Health Day (October 10). The strategy's central message is 'every suicide is one too many'.
Joined by people with lived experience of serious mental ill health, charities and colleagues from public health, the moving event heard from various speakers about the positive work going on every day locally to prevent death by suicide.
Accompanied by therapy dog Bruno, Jean shared the importance of talking and encouraging others to share how they’re really feeling with a loved one or friend.
Jean said: "At Paul’s inquest, we were told that his family had been put down as his ‘protective factor,' but nobody told us he was feeling suicidal, so how could we protect him if we did not know?
"Talking is so important, ask the difficult question . . . are you feeling suicidal? I feel sure that if someone had taken the time to have the conversation with him, he would have agreed to his parents being informed."
Jean continued: "Paul was an amazing person, very kind and thoughtful towards other people, whether he knew them well or if they were complete strangers. He would always want to help anyone or any animal.
"He joined the Royal Marines at 16, however despite being very able in the physical challenges, he found the emotional side more difficult to cope with.
"I feel that at that time, education in schools around mental health and suicide prevention would have been valuable for him."
The CWP Suicide Prevention strategy is part of a broader regional and national effort to prevent suicide and focuses on reducing suicide, improving support for people who self-harm and those who are bereaved by suicide.
Gary Flockhart, director of nursing, therapies and Patient Partnership at CWP, said: "Suicide can tragically touch any of us, and the impact on those left behind is profound.
"Our ambition is for all suicides to be prevented and people to be supported to maintain hope.
"This strategy has been co-created with colleagues, partners, and those with lived experience.
"In Cheshire and Merseyside, 75% of people who die by suicide aren’t known to mental health services, which is why collaboration with partners and talking with one another is so vital.
“Over the course of this strategy, CWP will be working with partners in the community including schools, colleges, hospitals to provide suicide awareness training – letting as many people know as possible the vital signs to look out for to prevent suicide.
"In addition, our teams will look to further strengthen engagement with families and carers in safety planning and information sharing where appropriate.”
Reflecting on the launch, Chris Lynch, non-executive director at CWP, said: “During the event, we focused on prevention, intervention, and postvention, but the most powerful message was the involvement of people with lived experience.
"It's not just about hearing their voices; they have co-designed the strategy, and that’s what makes it impactful.
"As someone personally affected by suicide, I’m encouraged that we are tackling this together as a system because, ultimately, we are stronger together.”
To read the full CWP Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-2028, click here.
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