Greater Manchester is coming together to prevent suicide and Trafford will be playing its part.
The borough will play host to the start of a baton run from Manchester United’s stadium to Manchester City’s ground.
There will also be a community walk of hope at Old Trafford Wellbeing Centre to help reduce the stigma of suicide.
Suicide is the biggest killer of men and women under 35 in the UK. The Baton of Hope is a national campaign that aims to create a society where suicide and suicide prevention are openly and widely discussed to promote appropriate actions.
A specifically designed baton will tour UK towns and cities and aims to impact the lives of thousands across the country with a simple message: where there is hope, there is a real opportunity to save lives. The baton will reach Manchester on Thursday 29 June, reaching Old Trafford around 9am. From there, the Baton of Hope running team will take it across to the Etihad Stadium before making its way around the city centre.
The GM Faith Network is encouraging Prayers for Hope at 11am across the city on the same day.
Cllr Jane Slater, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Health and Care, said:
“Too often, people can have suicidal thoughts but struggle in silence because raising the issue is seen as taboo.
“That needs to change. We should be able to talk openly about suicide and let people know they don’t have to cope by themselves, that there is help available, that they can get better and, above all, that there is hope.”
On Wednesday 28 June, the community walk will take place from 12.30pm to 2.30pm with Bluesci and TCV. The walks have been organised by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust.
For more information, to register your interest or get involved please contact: Neala Farr at neala.farr@gmmh.nhs.uk
Accompanying the Baton of Hope, an online educational programme has been devised to help reduce both the stigma and the fears people have in talking about suicide and to advance effective early intervention and prevention techniques and strategies.
One Life Lost Is Enough (Ollie) – a partner of Baton of Hope – has devised the sessions, which include wellbeing, suicide prevention and tackling some of the myths and misconceptions around suicide.
To find out more about the sessions and to book tickets, please visit the OLLIE Eventbrite page.
For more details about the Baton of Hope, please visit the Baton of Hope website.
Posted on Thursday 22nd June 2023