Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that male suicide rates have reached their lowest numbers since 1981, but men are still three times more likely than women to end their own lives. Why is this?
Mental health awareness has surged in recent years. As social media use becomes the norm, more individual stories are being shared, and more people are able to find a community and realise they are not alone. When a person is struggling, they are often reluctant to vocalise their worries. This is an issue particularly for men, where toxic masculinity is seen as the norm by society, and feeling ‘soft’ emotions supposedly leaves them looking weak.
This World Suicide Prevention Week, St Johns Shopping Centre wants to raise awareness for those suffering in silence. Liverpool remains within the top 5 cities for suicide numbers, and we need to see this change – one death by suicide is one too many. Thousands of people pass through our doors daily, and we intend to do all we can to ensure that each one knows how much they matter. We welcome individuals affected by suicide to share their stories and help end the stigma surrounding it.
To show our support for National Suicide Prevention Week, we will be highlighting the different support groups that are available. If you or someone you know needs help, don’t hesitate to contact the following organisations:
Samaritans (for everyone) – 116 123 – lines open 24 hours a day
Campaign Against Living Miserably (for men) – 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Papyrus (for people under 35) – 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm
Childline (for children and young people under 19) – 0800 1111 – lines open 24 hours a day
The Silver Line (for older people) – 0800 4 70 80 90 – lines open 24 hours a day
