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Funding for Suicide Safer Wigan

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A national charity preventing suicide in young people has been given a major cash injection to educate residents and professionals across Wigan Borough.

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide has been awarded almost £132,000 from Wigan Council’s latest round of Deal for Communities Investment Fund to launch ‘Suicide Safer Wigan’, a three year programme to train local people and organisations in suicide first aid and prevention.

The programme aims to provide the area with skills to keep young people in the community safe from the risk of suicide and eradicate the stigma associated with mental health to allow residents to live well – another of the council’s top priorities.

Donna Hall, chief executive of Wigan Council said: “We are privileged to support this incredibly important project, which we are confident will have a profound effect on our community. “Mental health awareness is something we’re passionate about in Wigan Borough, even launching our own campaign last year, #TogetherWeCan, to tackle stigma and signpost to local support services.

“Suicide Safer Wigan is a great example of what The Deal for Communities Investment Fund can be used for and we look forward to watching the programme develop over the next three years.”

As part of the programme, PAPYRUS will deliver workshops called ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ to a wide range of organisations from the public, private and third sector.

They will also run two-day skill building workshops aimed at local people to provide suicide first aid intervention, which can be used within the community if needed.

Sarah Blackie, head of operations at PAPYRUS said: “Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK but we firmly believe that it can be prevented by being more open. By offering the right help, we can make a difference.

“By up-skilling professionals and local people, including those who have a duty of care for a young person, we can increase their knowledge so they can offer appropriate support and guidance for a young person at risk. In short, this project will help save more young lives in Wigan Borough.”

And, adding to their offer, PAPYRUS will establish ‘Community Volunteers’ who will design, coordinate and deliver suicide prevention activities in their chosen wards to create a network of individuals with the ability to identify those at risk and provide ‘safety-for-now’ care before signposting to fully qualified support.

Find out more information about PAPYRUS or learn more about The Deal for Communities Investment Fund.

See our #TogetherWeCan campaign.

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