Every Life Matters, a suicide prevention charity based in Cumbria, is urging people to be "helpfully nosey" when discussing the topic with people.

September 10 marked World Suicide Prevention Day,  and Every Life Matters is thankful that awareness days/months are bringing changes around the way we discuss important issues.

It is an important step in generating conversations that could be life-saving.

Every Life Matters, stresses that the need for open conversations around mental health and suicide has never been more crucial. According to research, one in eight people in problem debt consider suicide, clearly signifying a link between mental health and financial troubles.

This heightens the importance of the community checking in on those they believe may be struggling. Chris Wood, for Every Life Matters said: "People get afraid that by mentioning suicide, it would put the idea in someone's head, but that statistics show that this is a myth."

Cumbria has troubling suicide statistics,  the rate is 50 per cent higher than the national average and Barrow and Copeland have the 5th and 6th highest suicide rates by district in England. Chris said: "It is a significant and tragic issue in our County."

Figures show that only around 10 per cent of those who die by suicide have seeked help from mental health services.

"Suicide prevention demands a community-wide response", Chris Wood said.

Every Life Matters emphasised that friends, family, and colleagues are often best positioned to notice when someone is in distress and needing life-saving intervention.

Every Life Matters has been delivering suicide prevention training sessions across the county since 2019. To date, they have trained over 13,000 individuals, a feat the charity is extremely proud of.

The training extends to young people and teachers, equipping them with the expertise to offer help to individuals expressing suicidal thoughts. The school initiative, 'Suicide Safe Schools', includes policy and procedure support, parenting training, a 6-hour pupil programme and sessions on self-harm and peer support.

The charity is piloting this comprehensive strategy in five schools, where they have trained 2,000 pupils and 3,000 parents and staff members.

This pioneering approach to suicide prevention looks to be expanding, with plans for five additional schools to join the programme over the next two years.

The charity also offers bereavement support to individuals, families, and employers affected by suicide. This includes practical aid like funeral costs and emotional assistance to cope with the devastating loss. Chris said: "We feel really honoured to be able to offer this help."

The charity works closely with the police and various community groups to deliver this vital service, which did not exist in the county just a few years ago.

Every Life Matters have also been working alongside Three Dads Walking, to advise the Government on national curriculum surrounding the topic. Chris said: "We are seeing some important moves now, it is a really exciting project to be apart of."

Despite the significant strides made, Every Life Matters faces substantial challenges in securing funding to continue its work. With a commitment to making long-term cultural shifts and changing attitudes, the charity stresses the need for more supporters to help fund their efforts.  "There is still much to do", Chris said.

Every Life Matters is calling for everyone to be more attentive, check in on people, and not be complacent with a straightforward 'I'm okay'. Chris has coined the term "helpfully nosey", when checking in on people.

The understanding and prevention of suicide is a society-wide responsibility, an area where awareness and empathy truly can save lives.

For more information about where to get help when you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or how you can support someone at risk, or if you have been bereaved by suicide, visit every-life-matters.org.uk

If you are having thoughts of suicide support is available at;

North Cumbria NHS Universal Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 652 2865 open 24 hrs a day/7 days a week

South Cumbria NHS Urgent Mental Health Support Line 0800 953 0110 open 24 hrs a day/7 days a week

Samaritans – Call 116 123 – There round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

PAPYRUS – Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am to midnight. Support line for young people at risk of suicide.

CALM – Call 0800 58 58 58. Men’s Helpline open 5pm – Midnight

Shout Crisis Text Service – Text Shout to 85258 to get 24/7 text support