To coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October, Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary signed the local STOP Suicide Campaign Organisational Pledge to help prevent suicide by supporting staff.

Backing the pledge, Left to Right: Aly Anderson, Mind in Cambridgeshire; Kevin Vanterpool, Detective Superintendent and lead on mental health at Cambridgeshire Constabulary; Cambridgeshire County Councillor Kilian Bourke, Chairman of the Health Committee at the Council; Cambridgeshire County Councillor Tony Orgee, Chairman of the Cambridgeshire’s Health and Well-Being Board; and Cambridgeshire County Councillor Steve Count, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council.

The STOP Suicide Campaign aims to build awareness about how everyone can play their part to prevent suicide in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It is being led by three local charities Mind in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough & Fenland Mind and Lifecraft.

By signing the STOP Suicide Organisational Pledge, Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary are pledging to:
– promote the STOP Suicide message throughout their organisations;
– encourage staff to sign up to the personal STOP Suicide Pledge;
– encourage staff to be open and honest when life gets difficult;
– encourage staff to reach out to others if they are worried about them.

STOP Suicide aims to prevent suicide across all communities by encouraging the public to be aware of the suicide warning signs, to ask directly about suicide if they are worried about someone and support those at risk to get help. Organisations and individuals are being asked to make the STOP Suicide Pledge, carry the STOP Suicide Pledge card and wear the ‘I’d Ask’ badge.

STOP Suicide is funded by NHS England and is supported by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Cambridgeshire County Council’s Public Health Team.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Kilian Bourke, Chairman of the Health Committee at the Council, said: “The Council’s Health Committee has made mental health its top priority. It is therefore only right that Cambridgeshire County Council supports the STOP Suicide campaign and its message that suicide is everybody’s business. Suicide is preventable and I would urge people to take a minute or two to visit stopsuicidepledge.org, which provides advice and guidance. You don’t have to be a professional to help someone. It’s about being aware of the warning signs, talking directly to someone who you are concerned about and supporting those at risk to get help.”

Kevin Vanterpool, Detective Superintendent and lead on mental health at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: “Suicide has a huge effect on the families and loved ones of those who take their own lives. The sad reality is it can often have been avoided with the right help and support. We are committed to supporting this campaign to empower people to help prevent suicide by educating them on the signs to look out for and how they can help.”

You can also read this news story on the Cambridge News and Cambs Times websites.