WORK being done in the city, county and Rutland to raise awareness of suicide and the support that is available to prevent it, will be highlighted on World Suicide Prevention Day today (Thursday 10 September).
Every year, around 80 people die by suicide in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Local councils, the police and health partners will be taking part in a virtual conference to highlight the partnership approach to suicide across the area. Users of local mental health services and professionals from a range of organisations will also be taking part.
The conference builds on the work already under way in the area thanks to the ‘Start a Conversation’ initiative, which was started two years ago to try to break the stigma and silence around speaking about suicide.
Cllr Vi Dempster, Leicester City Council’s assistant city mayor for health, said: “Suicide is not spoken about widely enough, either by those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, or those who have been affected by a death by suicide.
“We know that half of the people who die by suicide have never sought professional help.
“One of the key messages of World Suicide Prevention Day is that if you are feeling suicidal you are not alone, and there are many different avenues of support open to you.”
More information about the help that is available can be found on the Start a Conversation website, while help and advice about mental health issues is available on the city council's website.