World Suicide Prevention Day
Debate between Luke Charters and Liz Twist(2Â weeks, 4Â days ago)
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Liz Twist
I most certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking her local groups for that work. It is good to hear about so much attention being given to Men Walking and Talking in local groups where they can access help. I suppose we should mention Andy’s Man Club as well, which does amazing work across the country to get men talking.
Mr Luke Charters (York Outer) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for all her work on this issue. I struggled with my own mental health after the traumatic birth of my son, as I think she knows. It was friends and family, including my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Alison Hume), who helped me, but in York we also have fantastic local groups like Menfulness, founded by Dr Jack Woodhams. Will she praise them and thank them for getting men to talk, whether through sport, football or walking?
Liz Twist
I thank my hon. Friend for sharing the struggles that he has had; by talking, we can learn more about them and tackle the issue. I certainly join him in thanking Menfulness. People are doing amazing work.
I want to talk about Samaritans. Samaritans began in 1953 in the city of London, founded by Chad Varah and arising from his experience of seeing lives lost to suicide—people who had no one to speak to. He advertised a telephone number that those contemplating suicide could call to speak to someone about how they were feeling. That work continues today, and is built on by the many outreach activities and the policy work led by Samaritans. I thank the many Samaritans volunteers who continue to listen and reach out in their local area to prevent suicides, including those in my local Tyneside Samaritans branch.
Tomorrow evening, Samaritans will mark World Suicide Prevention Day with a reception in Speaker’s House, held alongside the Premier League. The Premier League is doing excellent work in using the vast reach of football to support men, encouraging open conversations among groups who traditionally do not seek help. The charity Mind has a similar commitment, and it will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in this House on Thursday morning. I am incredibly proud to sponsor its parliamentary reception this week, which will bring together campaigners, partners and clinicians to champion Mind’s vital work in our communities and to ensure that suicide prevention remains at the very top of our legislative agenda.