Month focused on preventing suicide and self-harm in Nottinghamshire
County council’s month-long campaign on mental health runs from Suicide Prevention Awareness Day on September 10 to World Mental Health Day on October 10.
Nottinghamshire County Council is running an extended campaign focused on improving mental health and the support available to those who need it.
Marking World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 in Nottinghamshire, photo courtesy of Nottinghamshire County Council
As the council reiterates, changes in mood are a normal part of life and can be caused by a range of factors such as relationship or family pressures, stress at school or work, job loss, bereavement or financial worries. A person’s mental health can fluctuate depending on both their particular circumstances and their ability to manage the situations they may face. The support available to them, whether from family, friends or professionals, can also be key.
Yet there’s evidence of widespread concern around mental health and issues such as self-harm and suicide. The Big Notts Survey found that two in every five people (41%) considered their own or another person’s mental health as one of their top concerns, both during the Covid pandemic and since we came out of lockdown.
Meanwhile, mental health charity Mind reports that one in four people will experience mental health problems of some kind each year in England, while one is six report experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in any given week. Over the course of a lifetime, one in 14 people self-harm and one in 15 attempt suicide while as many as one in five have suicidal thoughts.
Sady, suicide affects people from all walks of life. What’s more, the impact on friends and family members who lose a loved one to suicide is often devastating and long-lasting. They can be left feeling shock, guilt, sadness, confusion and shame – and that there is no support.
These are the issues that Nottinghamshire County Council seeks to address is its ambitious, month-long campaign, with local people encouraged to improve their own mental health and support suicide-prevention activities. That includes taking free, 20-minute training offered by the Zero Suicide Alliance, watching animated films on aspects of mental health and taking part in a range of local community events.
Cllr Scott Carlton, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, says: ‘We need to challenge the stigma and negative attitudes surrounding the topics of suicide, self-harm and mental health. We need to promote the ways in which people can protect their mental health and get the support they need. The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is “Changing the narrative on suicide” and it encourages people to engage in open and honest discussions. Every conversation, no matter how small, helps to build a more supporting and understanding society.
‘The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is mental Health in the workplace. We spend a significant amount of time at work each day and this year’s theme highlights the importance of creating mentally healthy work environments and addressing mental health challenges in the workplace. I hope this month-long campaign will encourage people to get talking about their mental wellbeing. Whether we’re thinking about suicide prevention, awareness of self-harm, or the state of our mental health, shifting the conversation from a culture of silence and lack of understanding to one of openness, empathy, and support can help people develop the confidence to seek help.
‘People can find out what local support is available on our website: protecting and improving your mental well-being. Help is available for anybody who is struggling with their mental wellbeing. It’s important to get talking!’
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