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Walk for hope marks culmination of Suicide Prevention Month

24/09/2021
Hope_Walk

Suicide Prevention Month will come to a conclusion with a walk for hope on Thursday 30 September.

The Wolverhampton Hopewalk 2021 is an opportunity to spread the word that there is help and support available to people in the city who are feeling overwhelmed by life, are worried about someone else in that position, or who have been bereaved by suicide.

Organised by the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum, the walk will begin in St Peter's Square at 12.30pm and, over the next hour-and-a-half, visit key locations around the city centre, including those offering support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

People are urged to register in advance for the Wolverhampton Hopewalk 2021 at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wolverhampton-hopewalk-2021-tickets-176361862077 where full information is available around Covid secure requirements of attendance.

A full risk assessment has been undertaken and measures will be in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, including limiting numbers to enable people to maintain physical distance.  

Trustee and University of Wolverhampton Mental Health and Wellbeing Academic Lead Clare Dickens said: "We are not merely a forum who gets together to talk about the problems our fellow citizens face, we try and actively support solution and prevention.

"People experiencing suicidal thoughts are often in extreme emotional pain. Their lives can be saved right up until the final moment, and we have to hold on to this belief in order to move us to do something about our own distress and indeed that of others.

"We need everyone in Wolverhampton to know that suicidal thoughts are a sign to change something in their life, not to end their life, that it is possible to recover with the right support, and that their lives matter.

"Our annual Hope Walk welcomes people together in order to share resources, stories and messages of hope across the city, and is just one way we hope to demonstrate the commitment of the forum and its key stakeholders."

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The Hopewalk will be a visible sign that people care and it will visit a number of places where help and support for emotional wellbeing is available in Wolverhampton."

The walk will also mark the official launch of the Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum as a registered charity.

The forum represents a range of key organisations and charities within the city, supported by the council's Public Health team, which all work closely together in order to prevent suicide.

If you are having a difficult time or if you are worried about someone else, contact:

The Black County Partnership NHS Trust's mental health support line is available to residents of all ages who are experiencing mental distress and require urgent support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 0800 008 6516.

 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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