On 10th September, people from around the world will mark World Suicide Prevention Day, an event that promotes suicide awareness and efforts to prevent suicide.
In 2011, 22 people took their own lives in East Lothian – the highest since 1991. This figure decreased the following year to 18 and fell further last year to 13*.
In East Lothian, a week long series of events is being organised by Christine Chambers, the Choose Life Co-ordinator for the county, in conjunction with CHANGES and Stepping Out.
This includes a daily broadcast on Radio Saltire which Brian Glass, CHANGES Choose Life Training Co-ordinator, explains: “Each day from Monday 8th until Friday 12th September, between 12 and 1pm, there will be input from those who have experienced suicidal thoughts – or a carer or a representative from a supporting organisation – presenting different perspectives on suicide prevention and raising awareness of the resources available throughout East Lothian.”
If you can read between the lines, you can save lives. That’s the message that Brian hopes to get across at Thursday’s SafeTALK event at Musselburgh East Community Learning Centre. “We are running a three-hour training course which gives the attendess the skills to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide, and to connect that person to someone with suicide intervention skills.” Anyone wishing to book the course should email brian@changeschp.org.uk.
For those bereaved by suicide, there will be a special time for reflection in St Andrew’s Church, in Musselburgh. To find out more, call Christine 01620 820176.
The week culminates with a free screening of Pascal Chaumeil’s black comedy ‘A Long Way Down’ at the Masonic Hall in North Berwick, at 7p.m. on Friday 12th with an optional post-film discussion and drinks. For further information contact Nicky Fox (Stepping Out) Nicky.fox@btinternet.com Phone: 07966 535 514
To learn more about how Scotland aims to reduce suicide, or, if you are worried about yourself or someone else visit chooselife.net
(*figures from http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/suicides/tables-and-chart.html)