Suicide prevention week

A ROADSHOW and remembrance service will take place in Shetland in the coming days to mark this year’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

The isles has long suffered from a high suicide rate – particularly among males – but for the first time in a number of years the local rate is on the decline.

NHS Shetland’s Choose Life coordinator Karen Smith said in March that there had been no suicides in 18 months as training and reduced stigma paid off.

This year’s national Suicide Prevention Awareness Week takes place between 4-10 September and during the Monday to Friday a roadshow will travel around Shetland to promote the message “Stop saying ‘I’m fine’ if you’re not”.

It aims to encourage people to open up about their mental health, while it will also visit licensed premises to speak to bar staff about noticing warning signs in customers.

The roadshow will be organised by NHS Shetland, Shetland Islands Council and charity Mind Your Head.

On 10 September a remembrance service will be held at Lerwick Town Hall from 8pm to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

People are invited to light a candle to remember a loved one who died from suicide, or to show their support for suicide prevention.

Speaking about the roadshow, Smith said it also aims to help people be aware of warnings from those close to them.

“The message is ‘if you’re worried about someone, such as a friend, family member or workmate, ask them directly about their feelings – it could help to save their life’,” she said.

“We are saying ‘it’s okay’ to ‘not be okay’. Sometimes people need to look for help. In Shetland, for men in particular, this can be difficult and they don’t often ask for help. ‘Stop saying ‘I’m fine’ if you’re not’ aims to challenge this and provide an opportunity for men to speak and to highlight support services that are available in Shetland.”

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NHS health improvement practitioner Lucy Flaws said visits to licensed premises were in response to recent feedback reiterating the link between drink and mental health.

“Over the past few months we have been asking the public what they think about the drinking culture in Shetland – many people think that alcohol is used as a means of coping when an individual’s mental health is suffering.

“We hope to visit as many licensed premises as we can over the week and provide support and resources to help with this campaign and increase bar staff’s confidence in recognising and dealing with difficult situations.”

Mind Your Head service manager Anouska Civico added that the week is “another opportunity for us to try and eradicate the stigma and banish some of the myths associated with suicide”.