The government, health services and wider community groups have already agreed to join forces to increase awareness, reduce stigma and enable people to get support when they need it. Currently about ten to 15 people per year die as a result of suicide in Jersey.
Ronan Mulhern, consultant nurse/suicide prevention lead for adult mental health and interim chairman of the Jersey Suicide Prevention Steering Group, and Andy Le Seelleur, co-founder of Thrive Jersey, are co-ordinating the alliance’s formation and are keen to highlight that everyone has a part to play in suicide prevention.
Relationships have been formed with UK organisations including the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, the Zero Suicide Alliance and Suicide Bereavement UK in order to learn about and develop effective prevention elsewhere.
Mr Le Seelleur, who lost his wife to suicide in 2016, said: ‘This is a fantastic development in opening up the dialogue around suicide.
‘Just one sudden death can have a huge impact on friends, family and colleagues, and in a small community like ours, the impact is significantly increased.’
Mr Mulhern said the alliance will welcome any organisation that has links to wellbeing, as well as individuals who want to get involved.
He added: ‘Awareness, prevention and bereavement are the three main issues we will focus on, and everyone in the community has a role to play, from barbers and taxi drivers through to schools, gyms and health professionals.
‘The aim is to develop integrated, inclusive and effective approaches and responses to these three main areas. The blend of local knowledge, commitment and action supported by a national network of expertise will provide us with the best platform to save lives.’
