TSuicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK and many more attempt or contemplate suicide, self-harm, and feel unable speak openly about how they are feeling.
The case for prevention earlier in life is clear: on average, three children in every school class in London have poor mental health; and half of all lifelong mental health problems emerge before the age of 14.
Thrive LDN, the citywide movement launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Londoners, is working with the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. A series of suicide awareness and suicide prevention training will be delivered across the education sector in London.
The partnership will complement PAPYRUS’s extensive experience of engaging communities and volunteers and Thrive LDN’s focus on multi-agency suicide prevention work.
PAPYRUS’s vision is for a society which speaks openly about suicide and has the resources to help young people who may have suicidal thoughts. Thrive LDN works to the principle of zero suicide as an ultimate ambition and undertakes partnership working to try to achieve this goal.
Commencing in 2019, the training will be made available to schools, colleges, and universities in all London boroughs. A range of packages will be offered to ensure the most appropriate training is delivered. The training will educate and support hundreds of Londoners in effective techniques in suicide awareness and prevention.A
Dr Phil Moore, Chair of Thrive LDN’s Suicide Prevention Group, said:“We believe the only way we can help young Londoners is to create an open city where people have the confidence to speak about mental health and to seek help when they need it. It’s so important that agencies and organisations work together and towards the goal of making London a zero suicide city. Our Suicide Prevention Group has been the driving force behind this work and we are proud to be partnering with PAPYRUS for the benefit of young Londoners.
“The training will enable hundreds of Londoners to have a greater awareness of suicide prevention, and the ability to look out for and support each other. We at Thrive LDN see this as a key part of our work towards improving the mental wellbeing of all Londoners.”