Charities team up for Suicide Prevention Week in Caithness
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A warm welcome was given to local charities who worked together to raise awareness of mental health during this month's Suicide Prevention Week.
A partnership of organisations – ScotRail, Railway Mission, Listening Ear, Caithness, and James Support Group from Cromarty – worked together to establish pop up stalls at Wick and Thurso railway stations on Friday, September 10.
One of the organisers Ruth McBean, project officer with Listening Ear, Caithness, said: "We were given a warm welcome from the public with some of them coming and chatting to us about how important that such events were raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
"You can never really know with these events how successful they are as it’s difficult to measure success. However, it was good to be able to work together in partnership for a common goal.
"And if one person has seen us and has been prompted to think about their mental health, that’s worthwhile in itself."
Another of the organisers, Dereck Grant, railway chaplain for the Railway Mission, said: "It was a great team effort and great to be supported with Listening Ear and James Support Group. It is through us working together for this common goal that change happens.
"We try to make it clear that suicide prevention is everyone’s business. Therefore, we all need to work together across sectors and organisations to identify and support people in distress and direct them to further sources of support that could save their life."
Pat Mullery from James’s support group was also a main contributor along with Dave and Amanda Snashall from Listening Ear.
The purpose of the event was to come together collaboratively to raise awareness and promote good mental health to passers-by and train commuters.
Ruth added: "We set up our stalls with lots of relevant mental health information and of course free pens and free water. Thank you to ScotRail for kindly donating us the water."
It was James Support Group's first event in Caithness and they are planning to hold monthly meetings in Thurso for anyone who has been bereaved by suicide, or has had suicidal thoughts either currently or in the past, once they are sure the Covid restrictions ease sufficiently.
For more information on the meetings check the groups website at www.jamessupportgroup.com or visit their Facebook page for details, or call the 24/7 helpline on 07563 572471.
Listening Ear in Caithness is a charity which offers a confidential, face-to-face, non-judgmental listening service. They see themselves as being a cushion of support for people who are experiencing a crisis, or just in need of someone to talk to.
The team are trained volunteers who are willing, compassionate, helpful and caring. They support people who have recently been bereaved, depressed, suicidal, and are involved with custody link work.
Their new initiative for men in Caithness is called JIM – Join in More – which is run on a Thursday evening at the Thurso Community Café from 7-9pm.
Ruth added: "Please get in touch with Dave@cvg.org.uk for a chat and further information about JIM, and for any other information, and please do not hesitate to contact us – Julie@cvg.org.uk, ruth@cvg.org.uk or phone 07529 248 763."
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