The theme this year is ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’.

At One Voice our aim is to change the culture of silence, stigma and negativity surrounding this very complex situation, what we want to see is openness, understanding and support.

We at One Voice Blackburn engage with people from the community and engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide.  By doing the work we are currently doing and having these honest conversations, we can break down barriers and raise awareness, provide a safe place where people can share personal stories. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to providing a more supportive and understanding society.

We have and will continue to create a more supportive and compassionate society where suicide is preventable, and everyone feels valued and understood. 

We have had several volunteers who have taken training to help recognise and support people who have or are going through a hard time.

We have undergone suicide prevention training and have had 10 volunteers take part in the training.  

Some of the quotes given by volunteers: –

“I feel the Asist training given to me has helped me recognise the signs to look out for when someone may be thinking about self-harm or considering suicide. The training enabled me to feel confident to approach someone safely who may be thinking about taking their own life.  This is incredible and I have found it to be the most powerful training I have done so far”.
Mehwish 

“The training has improved my skills and readiness to reach in and start a conversation with a person that may have thoughts of suicide. I found the course to be safe, with no adverse effects impacting my own mental health. The training has increased my general counselling and listening skills too”.
Aisha

“All the training I have been given has been helpful in some way or form, I am so luck I have been able to use the training to help people in the community”.
Amina

“Suicide is a major problem in the BAME community and often people don’t want to talk or acknowledge it, by me taking the first step of taking the training I have been able to implement the learning as part of my role and have supported many people in the community. I am lucky to have been given this opportunity”.