Winter Edition
Introduction by Michelle Hooker, Public Health Practitioner
Happy new year and welcome to the first Towards Zero newsletter of 2024.
The last newsletter in December 2023 was centred around the recent Towards Zero Event and I am pleased to report that plans for this year’s Towards Zero event are already underway. We really appreciate the continued support for this event. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming months.
Thank you for continuing to support the Towards Zero ambition, suicide prevention is everyone’s business.
People in Mind
The new mental health prevention programme People in Mind for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is up and running, which is fantastic news.
This new initiative is the first of its kind and represents a change in the way prevention programmes can been developed and delivered. The five-year funded programme is delivered by the Voluntary Sector Forum with many VCSE partners delivering a range of support including 1:1 and peer support, support planning and access to personalised health budgets for example. This has been co-produced to help anyone aged over 16 years taking a whole family and trauma informed approach. People can call 01872 266 383 or email gateway@ageukcornwall.org.uk to access this help.
Sport in Mind
Sport in Mind sessions are open to anyone 17+ experiencing mental health problems. The sessions are lots of fun, for all abilities and drop-in sessions, so no need to book and no referral required. The sessions are all delivered by a qualified instructor and all equipment will be provided. Carers, friends and family are more than welcome to accompany participants to the first couple of sessions – the more the merrier!Take a look at the current time table
My Brilliant Place to be ME!
Earlier this month pupils from nine primary schools helped launch a new wellbeing journal at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro.
Called My Brilliant Place to be ME! the journal has been created for the young people of Cornwall (but is here for young people everywhere!). It’s all about helping them learn to look after their wellbeing and feel good!
Headstart Kernow have created the journal with help from primary school children across our communities and it contains a range of activities and information that young people can work through at their own pace, at school, at home or on the move.
The launch coincided with Children’s Mental Health Week, which runs from 5 – 11 February.
The journal is free and available to everyone online. Printed copies will also be available to local children through schools.
National Suicide Prevention Alliance conference
It was really great to see Cornwall and Isles of Scilly represented at the annual National Suicide Prevention Alliance conference. Paula Chappell and I attended, along with colleagues Anne and Penn from the Suicide Liaison Service and Penny Phillips, an NSPA Lived Experience Influencer.
It was so worthwhile to connect with organisations working in suicide prevention to enable sharing of best practice. There was a wealth of information that we can use in our suicide prevention work in the coming months and years. All in all, a really positive experience!
Samaritans
On 2 November 1953, Chad Varah, a vicar and writer-cartoonist, answered the first ever call to a brand new helpline for people contemplating suicide. Since then, Samaritans has answered over 134 million calls for help.
Read more about how the Samaritans was founded
Singing for Wellbeing
Singing for Wellbeing is a community activity for adults (over 18) living in Cornwall and bereaved by suicide. You don’t have to be able to sing to come along and join in, and there are no auditions! Delivered by Cornwall Mind, call 01208 892855 or email: info@cornwallmind.org
