£480,000 to help tackle rise in suicides (From Durham Times)

£480,000 to help tackle rise in suicides

8:50am Sunday 23rd August 2009

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A MENTAL health charity is to pioneer a new type of suicide prevention training in a bid to save lives threatened by the economic downturn.

The news comes amid claims that the number of people taking their own lives in the region is rising.

Originally developed in Canada, the Living Works programme will be offered to everyone from police officers to postmen to reduce the risk of suicide.

It follows a successful application for £480,000 worth of Lottery funds which will allow the Chester-le-Street branch of Mind to expand its services to meet the growing demand over the next five years.

Counsellors at the Chester-le-Street branch, which is offering the programme from next month, say they have been inundated with calls from anxious people, many suffering from the economic effects of the recession.

Charles McCaughey, service development manager at the branch, said the recession meant the risk of mental illness and suicide was increasing.

He said: “We are in the vanguard for suicide prevention. It is on the increase, sadly because of the recession.”

Mr McCaughey said the branch had been “inundated” with inquiries and in the past two years had seen a 40 per cent increase in calls from people needing help because of their mental health. “Last year, we supported more than 2,000 people,” he said.

The announcement came as the branch celebrated its 30th anniversary.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones and the leader of Durham County Council, Coun Simon Henig, were among the visitors during Tuesday’s open day.

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