Over 100 people have already signed up to become a Suicide Prevention Champion – our new campaign encouraging everyone to join our mission to reduce suicides across West Yorkshire and beyond. 
The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership campaign, which launched on August 24th, has seen a total of 120 people register in less than four weeks – to learn more about suicide prevention and how to tackle stigma and raise awareness, to help bring down the suicide rate in West Yorkshire.
Signing up as a Champion involves watching the 20-minute Zero Suicide Alliance suicide awareness film and then making a suicide prevention pledge – big or small – about what action you will take. Registration is all online – at www.suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk/becomeachampion.
Suicide Prevention Champions can access all the latest suicide prevention news, resources, support services and information to help raise awareness and promote suicide prevention at home, in communities, in work and online.
With 120 people signed up so far, we are on track to surpass our initial target of recruiting 281 Champions by the end of the year – one for each of the suicide deaths registered in West Yorkshire coroners’ courts in 2021 – and then to keep growing.
Richard James, pictured above right, acting consultant in public health and lead for WY HCP’s suicide prevention programme, said: “It’s incredible to see so many people get behind our campaign and sign up as a Suicide Prevention Champion.
“With 120 registered up already, and each watching the 20-minute suicide prevention training video, that means over 40 hours of combined training, which is amazing.
“Please continue to sign up and spread the word; we need everyone’s help in reducing suicides.
“If we all do something – even if it is as simple as putting a poster up at work – then together we can bring the suicide rate down in West Yorkshire.”
For more information and to sign up, visit https://suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk/becomeachampion.