200 people available to have free CPSL Mind Stop Suicide Training

On Blue Monday, wrongly considered the most ‘depressing’ day on the calendar, Monday 16 January, Shifties, the small business community founded by Cambridgeshire-based entrepreneur Alex Hughes, hosted a 24-hour ‘Speak Up’ Liveathon to support individuals struggling with mental health issues.

The whole day exceeded expectations with over forty speakers being fully vulnerable and brave to discuss various topics that has or still affects their mental health. Topics include from obesity to running marathons, mindsets when it comes to business, living with tourettes, agoraphobia, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and the current danger to our climate and the environment.

The Speak Up Liveathon started streaming at midnight and ran through the 24 hours of 16 January 2023. Broadcasting on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube, it reached over 12,000 people, with over 3000 page visits.

Co-hosting with Hughes this year was Luke Newman, founder of ‘For Men To Talk’ – a mens’ peer support group based in St. Neots. The group, which also holds physical, virtual and walking meetings in nearby towns and villages, aims to provide a safe and supportive space for men to share their thoughts and feelings.  

Hughes and Newman encouraged audience members to share their concerns and questions in the live feed, where there was also opportunities to interact with the guests. 

The 2023 Liveathon raised over £2,000 on just the day for CPSL Mind, a charity devoted to supporting people with mental health concerns and their families across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire. That amount added to the growing total raised in previous years. 

The STOP Suicide campaign, run by CPSL Mind, is an award-winning suicide prevention campaign that seeks to empower communities and individuals to help stop suicides by being alert to the warning signs, asking directly about suicide and helping those who are feeling suicidal to stay safe.

With the funds raised during the 2023 Liveathon, 200 people are now available to have free STOP Suicide training in St Neots with the aim to provide an overview of how to identify a person at risk of suicide and equip you to support that individual to stay safe.

For more information, please visit https://shifties.co.uk/stop-suicide/