Free suicide prevention training will be held in Cumbria.
Held at the county’s leisure centres in partnership with Every Life Matters, the 12-month Orange Button Community Scheme seeks to equip people with vital, life-saving skills.
Cumbria has one of the highest suicide rates in England and Wales.
The training session will launch at Kendal Leisure Centre on April 16 from 9.30am to 1pm.
Future events will take place at Penrith and Workington leisure centres, Whitehaven Sports Centre and the Sands Centre in Carlisle.
The face-to-face suicide alertness session will help participants to:
- Recognise when someone may be at risk
- Identify signs that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Talk openly and confidently about suicide
- Support someone in crisis
- Access relevant support services.
The training, delivered by Every Life Matters’ experienced suicide prevention specialists, will also enable participants to:
- Understand the local and national context of suicide
- Explore the impact of stigma and societal attitudes
- Recognise the complex and varied reasons behind suicidal thoughts
- Appreciate the importance of compassionate listening
- Learn how to ask direct questions about suicide
- Understand safety planning and risk assessment.
Local residents can book onto the session through Eventbrite.
On completion, participants will qualify to become part of the county-wide Orange Button Community Scheme, helping to create a network of people equipped to support others in times of need.
Lynn Almond, GLL’s regional health manager for the North, said: “We’re proud to support this vital initiative, which has the potential to save lives across our communities.
“This campaign is particularly meaningful to us. In 2014, we lost a valued colleague, 27-year-old Ben Osborne, assistant manager at Appleby and Penrith leisure centres. His death had a profound impact on everyone who knew him.
“Our health teams are already trained in mental health awareness and now colleagues across our leisure centres will take part in this training to further strengthen their skills and confidence.”
Nina Porter, communications & business engagement lead at Every Life Matters, added: “We are thrilled that GLL has joined our Cumbria United Against Suicide sports initiative and is taking action by hosting our training.
“The sporting and fitness community is crucial in preventing suicide and facilities like GLL’s leisure centres are places where people come together regularly, build relationships, which supports their physical and mental wellbeing.
“By giving people the confidence to look out for one another, start those important conversations, and ask the life-saving questions, we can all make a difference. We would encourage all sports clubs in Cumbria to join our Cumbria United Against Suicide team.”
