Suicide Prevention Training rolled out at KWL

KWL is working alongside Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership to promote the #TalkSuicide campaign, a FREE online suicide prevention training course at www.talksuicide.co.uk.

One life lost through suicide is one too many.

According to the Office for National Statistics:

  • There were 5,691 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2019 – which amounts to around one death by suicide every 90 minutes.
  • Suicide is the leading single cause of death in men under age 50
  • Suicide rates are the highest they have been for two decades
  • Around three-quarters of registered suicides in England and Wales in 2019 were among men

Last year, the suicide rate in the construction industry was found to have been over three times the national average. As this is so close to home, the leadership team at KWL wants to take action now and turn this around – after all, these tragic losses are so much more than a simple statistic – these are real people’s lives.

Covid-19 has brought additional worries for many people: from finances, to employment and health, the past year has been filled with uncertainties. Understandably, for some, this has had a detrimental effect on their mental health, especially as contact with loved ones has been restricted. We believe that everyone should be able to access the right support should they need it.

For this reason, we are actively encouraging KWL employees, their friends and families to get involved and complete the training which might help to save a life.

The #TalkSuicide training only takes around 20 minutes to complete, and will teach you to:

  • SPOT the signs when someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts
  • SPEAK to an individual in a supportive manner
  • SIGNPOST an individual to the correct services and support

On completion of the training, you will receive a downloadable certificate as a reminder of your efforts. If you require any more information on the #TalkSuicide campaign or want to find out more on the training, please visit www.talksuicide.co.uk.

Another service, launched this year, is Qwell – a safe and confidential online space for men to share experiences and gain support from a community of qualified professionals. Accessible to men aged 18+, users of the service can join online peer support communities, access self-help materials or engage in online chat sessions with experienced counsellors. Whether you require some support, or simply want to discuss your feelings, you can visit https://www.qwell.io/hcv to anonymously access help.

Yorkshire and The Humber have some of the highest rates of suicide in the country, but by working together we can help to try to reduce this. We hope to make a change not only through this campaign, but also through the continued camaraderie and supportive network that KWL staff have established over the years.