For Men To Talk supports the CPSL Mind STOP Suicide Campaign

January is a time when many people feel low. The days are short, the weather is cold, and money worries or family pressures can feel heavier than usual. That is why ‘For Men To Talk’ is proud to support the CPSL Mind STOP Suicide Campaign this January across Cambridgeshire.

An estimated 1 in 5 of us will experience suicidal thoughts at some point in our lifetime. That is a huge number. Yet suicide is still something many people feel afraid to talk about. The STOP Suicide campaign is here to change that.

STOP Suicide is an award-winning suicide prevention campaign led by CPSL Mind and supported by local NHS and Public Health teams. Its aim is simple but powerful: help people to spot the warning signs, ask directly about suicide, and support anyone who may be struggling to stay safe.

The campaign does this in three main ways. First, it raises awareness about suicide in local communities. Second, it offers specialist training for people who work or volunteer with the public, even if they are not mental health professionals. Third, it runs public campaigns to encourage more people to take part in training and to reduce the stigma around mental health.

This January, the campaign is called ‘Are you sure you’re alright, mate?’. The message is based on real local data. In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, the suicide rate is highest for men aged 50 to 54. That is a group often seen as coping, working, and “getting on with it”, even when they are not okay.

The campaign encourages all of us to check in on our friends, colleagues, family members, neighbours, and anyone in our community. It is not about asking once and walking away. It is about asking again. Sometimes that second or third question is the one that opens the door.

Talking about suicide does not make it more likely to happen. In fact, it could save a life.

Luke Newman, CEO and founder of ‘For Men To Talk’, said: “Too many men are suffering in silence. The STOP Suicide campaign reminds us that a simple question – ‘Are you sure you’re alright, mate?’ – can be the start of a life-saving conversation. At For Men To Talk, we see every week how powerful it is when men feel safe enough to speak.”

‘For Men To Talk’ is a peer support group for men who are dealing with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and grief. It offers a safe and comfortable space where men can talk openly with others who understand.

There are two physical ‘For Men To Talk’ meetings in Cambridgeshire, in Gamlingay and St Neots. The service has also grown, offering physical, virtual, walking and fishing meetings in: Ampthill, Biggleswade, Blunham, Potton, Shefford, Flitwick and Sandy in Bedfordshire, Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and Stockport in Cheshire.

If you would like to learn more about the STOP Suicide campaign, visit: www.cpslmind.org.uk/stopsuicide/

To find out more about ‘For Men To Talk’, visit www.formentotalk.co.uk, call 07709 446480, or email luke@formentotalk.co.uk.