‘Collaboration is key’ - Cornwall’s Towards Zero Suicide conference hailed a huge success
A conference on suicide prevention in Cornwall has been hailed a success by the organisations that attended.
Around 150 people came together as part of the ongoing mission to reduce the number of suicides in our communities to zero.
The annual ‘Towards Zero’ event took place on Thursday, November 13, at The Pavilion Centre at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge and included a range of presentations, workshops and networking opportunities.
It was organised by Public Health Cornwall with a theme this year of ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’.
Representatives from a variety of organisations from health and care sectors, as well as local voluntary, charitable and social enterprise sectors, delivered presentations focusing on topics such as suicide prevention training, bereavement support and life after military service.
Videos from all of the presentations can be viewed on the Towards Zero Suicide pages of the council’s website.
The ‘Towards Zero’ movement began in the USA as a way of talking to and engaging with communities to help to prevent suicides.
Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, who delivered the opening presentation on suicide prevention, said:
“There is a huge amount of work going on to change and improve the way we support people having suicidal thoughts, as well as those who have been bereaved by suicide, but there is always more to do.
“Towards Zero is hugely important as it keeps us all on course and reminds us of the importance of improving the availability of those things that people tell us are so important to them when they feel vulnerable or at crisis point, and which help promote personal recovery, wellbeing and resilience.”
Michelle Hooker, Public Health Practitioner and suicide prevention lead in Cornwall Council’s Public Health team, said:
"It was brilliant to see so many people coming together for this year’s event and once again putting suicide prevention at the top of everyone’s priorities.
“Collaboration is key in suicide prevention so seeing so many people and organisations taking part was incredibly encouraging and testament to the commitment to joint working in Cornwall.”
Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said:
"Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy and has devastating consequences for families, friends and communities. We need to face it and talk about it together, and this is what the Towards Zero event helps us to do.
“There is free training for anyone who lives or works in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to help them feel more confident in conversations and in signposting services.”
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health, call 111 and select the mental health option (option 2). This call is free and will enable you to speak to a mental health professional in Cornwall. Anyone, any age, any time.
For more information and videos from the event visit the council’s Towards Zero Suicide web pages.
