September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. The International Association for Suicide Prevention, alongside United Kingdom organisations like Open Mental Health, is dedicated to helping us all learn how to keep ourselves and our communities safe from suicide.
Changing the Narrative on Suicide in Somerset
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is Changing the Narrative on Suicide. The goal is to encourage all of us to start open conversations. When we face difficult times, we often feel hopeless and might think we are entirely alone, which can be bad for our mental health. Changing the narrative means breaking the silence around suicidal thoughts, making it easier for people to talk about how they are feeling without fear of judgement. We know how challenging mental health problems can be, but talking openly really does save lives.
Walk for a Life
People will come together to remember loved ones and support suicide prevention on the 5th of September at the Taunton Walk for a Life event. By raising awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging action, Walk for a Life helps to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in Somerset. This is the third year people have walked in Taunton for World Suicide Prevention Day.
You are welcome to join in the walk and can arrive at the venue, Quaker Meeting House, 13 Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4EP, anytime from 10.00 am. There will be signs and pens for walkers to write the name of a loved one or their reasons for walking. The walk itself begins at 10.30 am after a short welcome speech and follows a wheelchair and pushchair friendly route through Taunton. You can see a route map here >>
There is another Walk for a Life event in Shepton Mallet on Thursday, 17th September. The walk starts at 5.30 pm from Shepton Mallet Library, 2 Market Place, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AZ, and follows a wheelchair- and pushchair-friendly loop around Collett Park. You can enjoy refreshments and an opportunity to connect and reflect afterwards back at the library from 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm.
Who Can I Call for Mental Health Support in Somerset?
If you need support right now, Open Mental Health is here for you. Talking about how we feel can be a frightening prospect. The thought of making a phone call can cause anxiety; we might imagine feeling awkward or nervous. But the people waiting at the end of the line are there to listen, not to judge, and want to support you.
Mindline Somerset is a confidential listening service ready to help. Over the last year, Mindline answered 44,485 calls. This included 3,040 high-priority calls from individuals experiencing an immediate crisis and at risk of harm. They also answered 3,644 calls from people having suicidal thoughts who came through the 111 service.
A phone call to Mindline Somerset can make a real difference; the telephone numbers are listed at the bottom of this page. Suzi, one of our Experts by Experience, called when she was feeling overwhelmed and having thoughts of ending her life:
“I frantically called Mindline. I didn’t know what else to do. The lady who answered my call was absolutely amazing. She said, ‘Let’s not try and talk just yet; let’s just get your breathing under control.’ She was absolutely amazing, and I have no doubt she saved my life that day.”
Sometimes, a telephone call is not what we need, and we might prefer to speak to someone for longer and get more in-depth support. If that is the case, you can book a Crisis Safe Space appointment. These spaces are available in person, via video call, and by phone, and offer a calm, compassionate environment where you can talk to a receptive and compassionate listener. People who used Crisis Safe Space last year told us that without it, they would have made a suicide attempt on 6% of occasions.
The Somerset Suicide Prevention Strategy
Suicide prevention is more than the emergency support available in dark times. While crisis support is important, the Somerset Suicide Prevention Strategy aims to address the root causes of poor mental health and suicide. This means looking at the wider conditions in which we all live, grow, work, and age and providing gentle, practical help in our everyday lives.
To learn more about Somerset’s vision for suicide prevention, you can read the full strategy document here >>
What is the Orange Button Scheme?
Have you noticed people wearing an orange button or with an orange button sticker in their car? These are people who have completed the Orange Button training and are ready to listen to you if you are having suicidal thoughts. You do not need to know them; they are ready and trained to talk to you. Just let them know what is on your mind.
The Orange Button scheme is a simple way we can all help prevent suicide across Somerset. Ursula Casey, Project Coordinator for Wild Roots, recently completed the training and wears her button proudly to let people know she is a safe person to talk to:
“It was actually very straightforward and only takes a few hours. It’s not about having to learn a huge amount of theory; a lot of it is common sense. What it really does is give you the confidence to simply ask someone how they are, and the knowledge of where to signpost them if they need a bit more help.”
Ursula hopes the orange button will become a familiar sight across Somerset’s towns and villages. She says that the more people who know what the button means, the easier it becomes for anyone struggling to find the support they need.
Suzi says, “I’ve talked to lots of people who want to help but don’t always know how, so the Orange Button scheme and its training is a good way to get the confidence to help others and start spreading the word about suicide prevention.”
Understanding Thoughts of Suicide
Thoughts of suicide can affect any of us. If you find yourself feeling this way, you’re not alone; research shows that around one in five of us will think about suicide at some point in our lives.
The reasons we might start having these thoughts vary from person to person. What feels manageable to some might feel completely overwhelming to others, but often it happens when we are dealing with intense emotional pain or feeling isolated.
Some of the things that can lead us to feel this way include:
- Going through a major life change, like losing a job, a relationship breakup, or sudden money worries.
- Struggling with a persistent sense of failure, uncertainty about our identity, or feeling left behind when friends celebrate milestones like getting married or moving away.
- Experiencing something traumatic, like abuse, addiction, or bullying, that overwhelms our ability to cope.
- Dealing with a long string of smaller setbacks that slowly build up until they feel like too much
For more information, visit our page about understanding suicide >>
Find the Support That’s Right for You
When we are in a dark place, it can feel like ending our life is the only solution. But we know that recovery is possible. There are practical steps we can take to stay safe, and with the right support, we can start to feel more hopeful and back in control of our lives.
If you are struggling and need someone to talk to, please call Mindline Somerset locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692. You can also arrange a Crisis Safe Space appointment either by calling the numbers above or by booking online.
If you are inspired by Ursula and want to make a difference in your community, you can learn more about how to sign up for the Orange Button training >>
A simple conversation could save a life.