September is National Suicide Prevention Month where organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how to help those who are struggling. Whilst raising awareness is important, we wanted to remind you that help is not just available for a day, or a month, it is available all year round.
With 2020 being a year like no other, we also want to highlight the importance of connection. We know through our work at Caridon Foundation that so many people felt alone and anxious when the national lockdown limited our connection with others. Whether you’re already living with mental illness or not, long periods of isolation can be difficult.
Many of us have found new ways to stay in touch with one another but for some, the impact of Covid and the change to our way of life has only exacerbated their mental illness. But having someone to talk to about how you feel can be invaluable.
While the stigma around mental health appears to be slowly fading, The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people take their own life each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. So, if you are struggling or have any concerns at all, whether it is relationships, health worries, anxiety, financial stress, feeling isolated or helpless, and have had or are having suicidal thoughts, remember help is ALWAYS available – please talk to someone today.
If you need immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, go to your nearest A&E department or call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital. If A&E isn’t an option, or you just want to talk to someone, here are some numbers:
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, weekends and bank holidays 2pm to 10pm
Text 07860 039967
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
If you’re worried about someone, don’t be afraid to start a conversation. The Charity Mind recently tweeted some useful tips on this:
https://twitter.com/MindCharity/status/1303958904284549121
