A Yorkshire-based mental health and suicide prevention Community Interest Company has released a free guide in support of World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday 10th September 2024.
The guide, produced by HelloHope UK CIC, has been released to help dispel the myths around suicide and provide actionable steps on how to support someone with thoughts of suicide.
Launched earlier this year by Leeds-based entrepreneur Ellie MacDonald, HelloHope offers mental health and suicide prevention training for businesses, communities and individuals.
HelloHope also campaigns for better awareness and is on a mission to reduce stigma to help people who are struggling to speak freely and get the support they need.
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 and anyone else under 35 in the UK. ONS statistics released last week show that suicide accounted for 6,069 deaths in 2023, the highest figures since 1999.
The Community Interest Company was established earlier this year following the loss of Ellie’s dad to suicide when she was just four years old in 1989.
Ellie MacDonald, founder, CEO and lead trainer of HelloHope comments:
“It took over 30 years to understand the impact my dad’s suicide had on me. Nobody dared talk about it and sadly the stigma is still rife and shockingly, this hasn’t changed much at all.
“Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in our country and yet prevention is minimal. I spent two years sourcing the best training and set up HelloHope to bring vital yet simple lifesaving training to the masses to help empower and equip ordinary people so we can collectively help make a positive difference.”
‘Changing the narrative on suicide’ is the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day this year and HelloHope says we can all do our bit, with Ellie keen to emphasise the importance of starting a conversation.
Ellie explains:
“HelloHope fits into this year’s theme perfectly. I believe in focusing on hope and how we can change the narrative, stigma and all play a part in preventing suicides.
“HelloHope’s guide of hope provides actionable steps to support a loved one, colleague or even a stranger who may be struggling, from things as simple as checking in on someone who doesn’t seem quite right to having a list of resources to direct them to.”
The guide includes contact details of organisations which can help when supporting someone with thoughts of suicide as well as useful advice for workplaces, communities and self-care.
To access the guide, visit the HelloHope website: https://hellohope.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WSPD-GUIDE-2024.pdf.
