NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has lit candles in its office today in support of World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place on 10th September.

The Sefton wide event, organised by the Sefton Adult Mental Health And Wellbeing Consortium (SAMHAWC), aims to improve the wellbeing of Sefton residents by raising awareness of the resources that exist locally to help people affected by poor mental health, such as the Samaritans.

Several venues across the borough are also supporting the awareness day including Bootle Town Hall, Sefton's libraries, the Strand By Me health shop at Bootle's Strand Shopping Centre, Access Sefton offices and the May Logan Centre.

Other locations will include the offices of SAMHAWC partners including Sefton CVS, Netherton Feelgood Factory, Venus, Parenting 2000 and Expect Sefton.

SAMHAWC says that the ceremonies will remember and honour those who have lost their lives, the families and friends who have lost loved ones and also residents who have struggled with suicidal thoughts in their lives.

The venues will also have information available on sources of support in Sefton for those feeling lonely and suicidal.

Jan Campbell of SAMHAWC commented: “We want to use this event to remember those Sefton families who have been affected by suicide.

“At the same time, we want to encourage people struggling with poor mental health to share their thoughts with the many people and organisations who will listen and can help them.

“We also want to get the message across to all Sefton residents that reaching out and listening to people who are struggling, in a non-judgmental and supportive way, and pointing them in the direction of professional support, can be a life-saving act,

” The Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report 2016 shows that there were 6,581 suicides in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in 2014. The highest suicide rate in the UK was for men aged 45-49, and the female suicide rate in England is currently at its highest since 2005.

In a further development linked to World Suicide Prevention Day SAMHAWC has been running suicide awareness training sessions for Sefton voluntary, community and faith sector organisations.

For a full list of the venues taking part or for more information please call George Harvey on 0151 474 4744 or visit www.seftoncvs.org.uk / www.samaritans.org