The University and Students' Union have partnered with Papyrus and the Mary O’Gara Foundation to host a Hope Walk on Tuesday 8th October
Content Warning - Suicide, Mental illness.
The University and Students' Union have partnered with Papyrus and the Mary O’Gara Foundation to host a Hope Walk on Tuesday 8th October, which has been organised to highlight the importance of raising awareness of suicide prevention and how we all have a role to play. Join us to walk and talk.. The walk will start in front of the Student Centre, wander down to Avenham Park by the river and loop back around to finish at the Student Centre. There’ll be refreshments waiting for us and some crafty activities, as well as mental health and support charity stalls.
The day provides a safe space for people to have non-judgemental conversations about mental health and suicide, helping to break down barriers to accessing support. There will be services and charities that could help you, your friends, and your loved ones.
We’ll be inviting dignitaries like the Mayor, Cllr Phil Crowe and Preston’s MP, Sir Mark Hendrick, as well as local charities, businesses, and media. It’s a public event, so we’re expecting a great sense of community.
The Hope Walk sends a positive message to people struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts: there is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The more of us that walk, the stronger that message becomes.
The walk will begin at the Student Centre, at 12pm on the 8th October.
Sign up here:
Why is this so important?
- The national suicide rate has not fallen since 2018.
- Rates of suicide have reached the highest levels in England and Wales in more than 2 decades.
- The Northwest has seen the highest rise.
- Over 5,000 deaths by suicide were registered in England in 2023.
- Suicide is the main cause of death in young people under the age of 35 in the UK but no one is immune.
- Males are 3 times more likely to die by suicide than females but suicide rates in females has reached its highest peak since 1994 (ONS).
- Researchers have found that up to 135 people can be affected to some degree by every person lost to suicide.
What is also important is:
- Suicide IS preventable
- Asking someone if they are having thoughts of suicide, will not trigger them to act on any such thoughts, on the contrary, by asking, it could encourage them to talk about how they may be feeling, and that is why 'we need to talk about suicide'