A Cumbrian suicide prevention charity has launched a new crisis support booklet for adults and young people.
Every Life Matters has distributed the booklet to hospitals, crisis teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and North West Ambulance Service teams across Cumbria.
Designed for use after a suicidal crisis or serious self-harm, the booklet offers practical and compassionate support in the hours and days that follow.
It includes clear information about what happens after a crisis, coping and grounding strategies, safety planning tools, advice for parents and carers, support with returning home, school or work, and clear routes into urgent and ongoing support.
It is also available online https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/library/
Lewis attempted suicide when he was 15.
They said: “I didn’t think anyone would understand what was going on in my head the day I ended up in A&E.
“When you’re a teenager, people tell you it’s ‘just stress’ or ‘just hormones’, but it didn’t feel small to me. It felt huge.
“I thought I’d ruined everything, that everyone would think I was weak or attention seeking, or that I’d made life harder for the people I love.
“Coming home afterwards was strange. Everyone was trying to act normal, but nothing felt normal.
“I felt guilty, embarrassed, angry at myself, and at the same time terrified that those feelings would come back. It’s lonely when you think you’re the only one who feels like that, and it’s even lonelier when you don’t know how to ask for help.
“That’s why things like the Every Life Matters crisis packs matter so much.
“They help young people understand what to do when everything feels too much, who they can talk to, and how to stay safe. Reaching out doesn’t make you weak — it means you’re still here, still fighting, and still worth the support that’s out there.”
Alongside the young person’s booklet is a dedicated guide for parents and carers.
Mum Kerry contributed to that booklet after sharing her experience following Lewis’ attempted suicide.
Kerry said: “As a parent, you stand there watching professionals rush around your child, doing everything they can, yet you feel completely shut out.
“You’re desperate to help, desperate to understand what happens next, but mostly you feel powerless.
“When we finally came home, the fear was overwhelming. I have never felt anxiety like it — listening for every movement, checking on him constantly, terrified that if I looked away for even a moment, I might lose him.
“I was trying to hold everyone together while feeling like I was falling apart myself. I felt isolated, ashamed, judged – like somehow I had failed him.
“These thoughts aren’t rational, but they are real, and they are heavy. No parent should ever feel they have to carry that weight alone. These crisis packs offer something I wish I’d had that night: clear guidance, compassionate support, and reassurance that you are not alone, even in the darkest moments.”
The charity is also using the launch to encourage people across Cumbria to reach out for help if they are having thoughts of suicide.
Juliet Gray from Every Life Matters said: “One of the biggest myths around suicide is that talking about it makes things worse.
“In reality, asking someone directly if they are thinking about suicide can be a vital first step in helping them feel heard and supported.
“Many people are frightened to say the wrong thing, but showing compassion, listening without judgement and helping someone access support can make a real difference.”
Every Life Matters is encouraging anyone who experiences thoughts of suicide to write a safety plan. It can help people recognise warning signs, use coping strategies, make their environment safer, identify people they can contact and know what to do in an emergency.
It also advises keeping the plan easy to access and sharing it with someone trusted if possible.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, or worried about somebody else, can find support through their website every-life-matters.org.uk People who need urgent mental health help can call the NHS Crisis line on 111 and choose option 2.
If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999 or go to A&E.
