As I write this, positive messages of support are flooding social media for World Suicide Prevention Day.
This awareness day began on 10th September 2003 and was founded by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organisation. Over the past three years in particular, its aim has been to ‘change the narrative on suicide’ by tackling stigma and encouraging honest and open conversations as well as systemic change.
Awareness schemes are fantastic opportunities to, well, raise awareness, and it’s great to see people coming together in support of one another. However, the work – signposting, listening, talking – must continue year-round. The team at Stronger Together are dedicated to doing exactly that. Their ethos is simple:
“For us, every week is Mental Health Awareness Week”.
If you haven’t already heard of them, where have you been? Since starting up this spring, Stronger Together Project (STP) have hosted a race night, a football match, a music night, and most recently, The Mayor’s Walk to Remember. Each event helps to bring the community together, tackling loneliness and isolation, while raising funds for mental health initiatives, such as Legend on the Bench.
Legend on the Bench is the charity behind the suicide prevention benches popping up all over the UK. They feature contact information and QR codes linked to support services like the Samaritans and Mind, so help is publicly available, day and night. Two benches were recently unveiled in Hoo and Cliffe Woods during The Mayor’s Walk to Remember event on 26th September. The Stronger Together team are showing up for their community, supporting charities already working hard to make a difference, and doing Medway proud with every penny raised and conversation had.
The 24th Legend on the Bench was installed in Rochester last year for a young lad named Juke. His foster father, Adam, fundraised for and organised the installation, sharing that it would honour Juke alongside others Adam and his loved ones have lost to suicide. At the unveiling, Adam, who is also a former Trustee of Legend on the Bench, said: “Our aim is not to raise money; it’s to save a life.”
Adam is a good friend of Lee Mills, whose partner, Natalie Robson, lost her best friend of 18 years, Krystal Lilley, to suicide in December 2024. So, they decided to come together and combine their skill sets to turn their pain into something proactive and positive for others. They have raised over £5,000 so far this year and show no signs of slowing down.
So, whether it’s an awareness day or not, remember you are not alone. Help is one conversation away: one phone call, one text, one honest response to “how are you?”. Please reach out to friends, family, or the organisations below if you have any concerns.
Find out more about the Stronger Together Project via their website www.strongertogetherproject.co.uk or follow @strongertogetherproject26 on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
by Nicola Jacobs
Helpful contacts:
The Samaritans – 116 123
Mind – 0300 123 3393
Suicide Prevention UK – 0800 587 0800