“The world is a better place with you in it.”
September 10th annually is World Suicide Prevention Day, and the Bucks, along with our charity partners Samaritans, our sponsors SEAH and also Telford and Wrekin Council, have joined forces to give out this simple message.
What is World Suicide Prevention Day?
Every year, organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.
The latest suicides statistics showed that in 2018, in the UK and Republic of Ireland, more than 6,800 people died by suicide.
Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and we know that suicide is preventable; it’s not inevitable.
But not being OK is still widely stigmatised. As a society, and as a community, we should aspire to ensure that no-one feels that taking their own life is the answer in difficult times.
We can all help each other, by having open and honest conversations about how we feel, and just as importantly by listening.
AFC Telford United want you to know that if you’re finding things difficult and struggling with your mental health, you don’t have to go through it alone.
We also want people to know that this message extends to everyone.
If you think someone you know might be finding things tough, is maybe a bit withdrawn, or is behaving differently, we would encourage you to ask them if they’re OK, or if there’s something they want to talk about.
You don’t have to have the answers; in fact, all we would encourage you to do is listen. Sometimes, that’s enough, to let someone feel they’ve been heard, but if you feel they need more help, it’s out there, and you can help them to find it.
Good mental health stems from connection, so let’s use our support of AFC Telford United as a way of supporting one another too.
The leaflet below can help you to find support for yourself, or for someone else you might be concerned about.
If talking to someone you know is too difficult, our charity partner Samaritans can help; their service is free, and available both day and night. Details of how to contact them are below also.
We can all encourage understanding about this issue, reach in to people who are struggling, and share our experiences.
The theme for WSPD 2022 is ‘Creating Hope throught Action’. We hope our support of World Suicide Prevention Day can inspire you to take action.
