Rural Action Derbyshire

Rural Action Derbyshire’s aim is to ensure the wellbeing of the people who live and work in rural Derbyshire and ensure that they are not unduly disadvantaged. One focus of our work is suicide awareness training (SAT). Our original interest in this field of work stems from the higher risk of suicide experienced by agricultural workers.

How does your organisation contribute to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it?

Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD) has considerable experience in delivering bespoke suicide awareness training (SAT) across Derbyshire since 2009. SAT aims to increase the awareness of good emotional health and mental wellbeing, and reduce the stigma of suicide. By encouraging people in communities to talk about suicide, RAD believes it helps de-stigmatise the subject. In turn, that helps to break down barriers to those who need to seek help and contributes to community resilience.

SAT’s rationale is that:

• Suicides are not inevitable

• Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem

• Everybody and anybody can help prevent suicide

The outcomes that RAD is working towards via SAT are:

• A reduced suicide rate in Derbyshire

• Increased confidence amongst front line workers and

• Volunteers about how to support someone at risk of suicide

• Increased knowledge amongst front line workers and volunteers about the support systems available to people at risk of suicide

• Reduced stigma associated with mental health

• Greater openness in talking about mental health

• Delegates attending these seminars have come from various organisations, including voluntary, public and private sectors.

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What are your current priorities?

To widen the reach of our training by encouraging people in organisations who can support the suicide prevention agenda to attend our training, particularly in those organisations who have not attended before or only infrequently.

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What challenges are you currently facing?

We currently reach a very wide audience for our training, but we want to widen this further.

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