Time to Talk Derbyshire continues throughout February and along with it comes a new mental health and suicide prevention awareness project for local groups to sign up to.
Time to Talk Derbyshire campaign was launched to raise awareness around mental health and the importance of talking about how you’re feeling.
Since the campaign began on 7 February, over 50 local businesses and organisations have got involved with the campaign, sharing messages and promoting the support on offer.
To further help local people to open up about mental health, we, on behalf of Joined Up Care Derbyshire, are funding a mental health and suicide prevention project working with groups across Derbyshire.
The Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Awareness Project is led by Erewash Voluntary Action and targets groups that work with children, young people and men.
The project will work with local organisations who have regular contact with the target audience including businesses, independent gyms and football clubs.
Groups will be offered free mental health awareness and suicide prevention training and resources alongside support and advice.
Our Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said:
“The effects of mental ill health, self-harm and suicide can be devastating. Many people – friends, family, professionals, colleagues and wider society will feel the impact.
“That’s why it is so important to help tackle the causes, offer support and raise awareness.”
Increasing the confidence and skills in people volunteering and working in communities is key to supporting people’s mental health and preventing suicides.
Stella Scott, CEO of Erewash Voluntary Action said:
“We are developing our work on enabling groups who provide opportunities for interaction with individuals in the community, to help themselves by providing access to relevant training and support to help them to have the confidence and skills to embed conversations about mental health.”
In partnership with Derbyshire County Football Association, amateur football clubs are also involved in the project.
Ricky Stevenson, CEO of the Derbyshire County FA, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to support this project and partnership as a confirmed mental health support network.
“Mental health problems are becoming increasingly common in the modern world, especially in sport, so I think it’s vital that people involved with football across Derbyshire can access support, advice, or just someone to talk to when they need it.
“As highlighted by The FA’s ‘Heads Up’ campaign, suicide is now the most likely cause of death for men under the age of 45, and with these shocking statistics people need to know that they don’t have to suffer in silence – if we can do anything to help this cause then we absolutely must.
“We hope that this project and the new funding can move to turn these statistics around, and we want to play our part in making that happen.”
