A CHARITY is offering free training for businesses in a bid to make more people aware of the risks around suicide.

Juliet Gray, of Cumbria-based Every Life Matters, is running suicide prevention courses for Barrow businesses to help people explore and challenge their beliefs around suicide, to become more alert to risks and to make more people aware of how to help a someone struggling access support.

This comes during The Mail’s ‘Time to Talk’ campaign that seeks to highlight the support and advice that is widely available for anyone in crisis following the loss of five young men who have reportedly taken their their own lives in Furness since Boxing Day.

The campaign also aims to shed the light on the fact that some men are keeping their problems bottled up - leading to tragic consequences.

Every Life Matters will also be providing the same free training for Barrow individuals after dates have been confirmed for early May.

Mrs Gray said: “Suicide is a huge issue in Cumbria and we all need to be involved in prevention.

“It’s not just about the services providing the support it is about us all, family and friends.

“People seem to have a huge fear when talking about suicide and this was the case years ago when people used to talk about cancer but things need to change.

“By simply being there to talk to someone it can make a huge difference and we all have a role in realising when someone is struggling.”

Every Life Matters is a charity focusing on awareness, training and bereavement support.

Over the last six years Mrs Gray has provided training to more than 6,000 people through funds provided from Cumbria Public Health.

The Mail also wants to encourage more people, particularly young men, to open up about the problems they are having and to not feel trapped by the stigma which surrounds asking for help.

If you would like to learn more about the training you can contact the charity at: juliet.gray@every-life-matters.org.uk.

Where to seek help

  • The Samaritans free helpline can be contacted 24hours a day 365 days a year by phoning 116 123.
  • Local support is available from Mind in Furness (01229 827094), Ulverston Mind (01229 581578) and South Lakeland Mind (01539 740591)
  • For those bereaved by suicide you can find your nearest SOBS support group at uksobs.org or call 0300 111 5065
  • For children bereaved by suicide, the Child Bereavement UK helpline is 0800 02 888 40