National Charity Papyrus has been awarded a grant of almost £50,000 to help reduce the number of people who take their own lives in the West Midlands.
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide will deliver training in August and September, equipping people with the knowledge and skills to have supportive conversations, intervene and save lives.
The £48,769 grant from the Inclusive Communities Fund will help PAPYRUS offer a combination of online and face-to-face training for more than 1,000 local people. The fully-funded sessions will be available to people living and working in the West Midlands, particularly those in Coventry, Warwickshire, Telford, Shropshire and Walsall.
Cara Donald, PAPYRUS’ Area Manager for England Central, said:
“Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK and we believe many suicides can be prevented.
“We need to break down the stigma around suicide and equip people and communities with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
“Prevention is everybody’s business. By offering this vital training, we will be spreading greater awareness and ultimately helping to prevent the tragic loss of life.”
Three different courses will be available, ranging from a 90-minute tutorial to an intensive two-day workshop. Each session will concentrate on improving knowledge and skills to better understand suicide and suicide prevention. PAPYRUS will also use the grant to recruit ten new volunteers to help spread the word about the support and the services which the charity offers.
Cara Donald added:
“We would like to say a big thank you to the Heart of England Community Foundation which administers the Inclusive Communities Fund. The generous grant of £48,769 will be well spent enabling people to invest in new skills, helping them to support those who are struggling with life and play an important role in keeping our local communities suicide-safe.”
The Inclusive Communities Fund was created to serve as a catalyst to address inequalities, forge deeper connections between individuals and organisations, and continue the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It has been made possible by the UK Government through the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and has been overseen by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Tina Costello OBE, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Community Foundation, said:
“We are incredibly proud to support PAPYRUS through the Inclusive Communities Fund. This grant will enable vital training that empowers local people with the skills and knowledge to intervene and save lives. By supporting initiatives like this, we hope to create a lasting, positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of communities across the West Midlands. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding suicide and ensure that more young people receive the help they need.”
PAPYRUS aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice, please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org