Greater Manchester’s Month of Hope returns, running from World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) to World Mental Health Day (10th October).
This year’s theme, changing the narrative on suicide, is about encouraging open conversations, challenging stigma, and inspiring hope across our communities.
Connecting you to the right support
Hub of Hope (external link) is the UK’s largest mental health support directory. Whether you want to find a service to help you feel better or you want to support someone who is struggling, we can help.
Useful contacts
- Mental health urgent help - If you need to talk to someone urgently about your mental health, or are concerned about a loved one, call NHS 111 and select option 2 to be placed in direct contact with a mental health professional in your area
- Samaritans (external link) - Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you want to talk to someone in confidence, call them free on 116 123
- Book an emergency appointment with your doctor
- Call 999 or visit your nearest A&E if you are in immediate danger
- Shining a light on suicide (external link) - A Greater Manchester campaign to bring suicide out of the dark because it affects us all. Whether you’re feeling suicidal, worried someone else is, or have lost someone to suicide, you’re not alone. Whatever you’re going through, they have helpful advice and support available
- Home - Kooth – Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous support for anyone aged 13+ who needs help with their mental health.
- Home - Qwell - Qwell is a free online mental wellbeing and mental health support service for adults in the UK. It provides anonymous access to mental health support without needing a referral.
- Greater Manchester Bereavement Service (external link) - A confidential information service for people bereaved or affected by suicide.
- A Wigan Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm. For more information email Wigan SOBS or call 07943934411. A group in Bolton is also open and runs on the third Thursday of every month at 7pm. For more information email Bolton SOBS or call 07961 268241.
- Alfie's Squad (external link) - Supporting children, young people, and their families, who have been bereaved by suicide.
Mental health training
It’s not always easy to know what to say or do when someone you care about is finding things tough. You’re not alone, and there’s help and advice available to support you.
There are a wide range of mental health training programmes designed to support individuals and organisations. Topics include mental wellbeing, how to have a supportive conversation about mental health, suicide awareness and prevention, and trauma and resilience.
Both in person and online training courses for free mental health training.
Zero Suicide Alliance are a national organisation who believe suicide can be prevented and that one life lost to suicide, is one too many. Their hope is for everyone to see the role they play in supporting suicide awareness and prevention.
A short, free online course is open to anyone over the age of 16. This free 30-minute training will help you learn how to recognise warning signs, suicide risk factors, how to engage in supportive conversations, signpost individuals to appropriate services, and understand real life experiences.