We were, and continue to be, proud to work alongside Birmingham Mind in delivering a Suicide Awareness and Champions Programme across Walsall for over 12 months.

The initiative was designed to equip more than 300 local people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to recognise the signs of suicide risk, have supportive conversations, and signpost individuals to appropriate help. Alongside the training, a professional forum was established to provide ongoing peer support, shared learning and collaboration for those working to improve suicide prevention across the borough.

Suicide remains a significant public health issue. Nationally, around three-quarters of people who die by suicide are men, and Walsall's Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies middle-aged men as one of the groups most at risk. This highlights the importance of community-led initiatives that encourage early intervention, reduce stigma and ensure people know where to turn for support.

Building on this work, Metta Minds is committed to continuing to strengthen suicide prevention across Walsall through our Men's Strategic Work. By creating safe spaces for men to connect, talk openly and access support, we aim to tackle the underlying factors that contribute to poor mental health and suicide while working collaboratively with local partners to improve outcomes.

To extend our reach even further, Metta Minds will also be offering suicide awareness, mental health and wellbeing training through Eventbrite. These accessible sessions will provide individuals, community groups, charities and workplaces with the practical knowledge and confidence to recognise warning signs, respond appropriately, and help create communities where conversations about mental health are normalised and lives can be saved.