In advance of World Suicide Prevention Day, Monday September 10, the Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Council’s Chief Executive, Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, urging the Council to advertise local and national services that help prevent those contemplating suicide from taking their own lives on its own website and in public buildings.
Councillor Sykes has previously raised his concerns about this issue, particularly on preventing instances of male suicide, at meetings of the full Council. He said: “Every suicide is shocking, but the scale of male suicide is especially shocking. Every two hours a man in the UK takes his own life – it is the single biggest cause of death of men under 45. One of the tragedies of this situation is that there are many agencies out there, both local and national, that can help prevent this happening – just recently in Oldham, a branch of the charity Andy’s Man’s Club opened in the Oldham Leisure Centre for just this purpose. I have asked the Chief Executive to publicise these services in Council buildings and on our website, because this is a practical action that we can take that may well save someone’s life.”
The letter to Dr Wilkins reads:
Dear Dr Wilkins,
Monday September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day.
The statistics of male suicide are particularly shocking. Every two hours a man in the UK takes his own life – 84 men every week. It is the single biggest cause of death amongst men under 45 years of age. Every single suicide impacts on 135 other people – and the relatives of anyone who commits suicide are themselves statistically more likely to take their own lives.
Male suicide is an occurrence that is not talked about enough – and we must talk about it more often. Men frequently commit suicide because they are unable to express their feelings, anger and frustration. Yet there are agencies out in our community that can offer a listening ear and support to these desperate individuals, including those at the point of ending their own lives.
Many are the helplines operated by local and national organisations, but recently a local branch of Andy’s Mans’ Club opened at the Oldham Leisure Centre and men can self-refer to this service which meets on Monday’s at 7pm.
In my view, as a local authority with a public health duty, we should be publicising these agencies as much as possible to those who need them. Yet, regrettably, there is NO mention of or links to any of these agencies that I can find on the Council’s website.
I would therefore like to request that as a matter of urgency this information is made available on the Council’s website and on public notice-boards in our key public buildings as soon as possible.
This is one positive practical act that we can do that might help save someone’s life!
I shall look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes.
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
Leader of the Opposition.
Help for suicidal thoughts
These agencies are open to those who need help.
Andy’s Man Club meets at Oldham Leisure Centre on Mondays at 7pm.
The Club can be contacted via http://andysmanclub.co.uk/contact
You can also emailed me at info@andysmanclub.co.uk
Unless it says otherwise, they’re open 24 hours a day, every day.
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123 – this is free to call
Email jo@samaritans.org
The Oldham and Rochdale Branch is located at 5, Caton Street, Rochdale OL16 1QJ. It is possible to go to the Branch for help, but phone first. Opening times for face to face visits are:
Monday 15.00-20.00
Tuesday 18.00-22.00
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 18.00-22.00
Friday 18.00-22.00
Saturday 09.00-12.00
Sunday Closed
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
Papyrus – for children and young adults under 35 or anyone concerned about the well-being of a young person
Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm
Text 07786 209697
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill
The Silver Line – for older people
Call 0800 4 70 80 90