Bereaved families have joined forces with over 90 NHS trusts, charities, politicians and suicide survivors to launch the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) tomorrow (16 November) at the Houses of Parliament.
The new organisation has been brought together by a common goal of ensuring suicide is taken seriously. It will work together to use the best prevention evidence to immediately reduce the number of suicides in this country.
It will also encourage one million people to take the practical step of taking part in new interactive prevention training and help them save lives.
The Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report 2017 reports that 6,188 suicides were registered in the UK, which is the equivalent of 20 long haul airplanes crashing on an annual basis.
The ZSA is determined to make a stand against those shocking statistics by working together with health professionals, experts in the sector and people directly affected by suicide to move this important topic to the top of the health care agenda.
It will also encourage as many people as possible to watch the free on-line training package, developed with official training partner Relias, which will give them the skills necessary to help people that may have suicidal thoughts.
In the time it takes to make and enjoy a cup of tea (20 minutes), the free course will provide the training to approach a difficult conversation with someone who is struggling. It will also provide real life scenarios and interviews with people who have lived through the impact of suicide.
The training is aimed at people from all walks of life – not just clinicians and other healthcare workers – and the ZSA hopes it will help better prepare people to help friends, loved ones or family members that may be considering taking their own life.
Leading members of parliament like Norman Lamb MP and Luciana Berger MP are backing the ZSA, who hope to win Government support to help them link all trusts in the county to share best practice and really tackle the problem of suicide in the UK.
The ZSA will be officially launched at an event at the Houses of Parliament on 16 November.