People with suicidal thoughts turning life around, says Cambridgeshire charity
Around 160 students die by suicide every year in England and Wales, figures show
People in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who may have had suicidal thoughts are able to find the "turning point in their lives", according to a mental health charity.
Around 160 students die by suicide every year in England and Wales, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
From August 2016 to July 2023, the ONS recorded 1,108 suicides among higher education students in England and Wales, an average of 6.9 deaths per 100,000 students.
"As soon as they're able to connect and start those conversations, they notice that turning point in their lives," Olivia Hubbard, communications and engagement manager at CPSL Mind, said.
"I think it's about reaching out to those individuals to offer them that hope."
CPSL Mind said around 100 people died by suicide in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in 2023.
The charity, which also covers South Lincolnshire, runs around 20 good mood cafés across the two counties to offer a safe space for people in crisis.
'Safe space'
"We want to highlight the importance of starting conversations that are open, compassionate and we're shifting from the silence and misunderstanding to having empathy and offering people support," Olivia said.
"It's about providing that safe space for people to talk about suicide and say the word 'suicide', so we break down that stigma and we clarify how someone might be feeling."
ONS figures show suicide rates were higher between August 2016 and July 2023 for male students (10.4 deaths per 100,000) than females (4.3).
While both male and female undergraduate students had a higher rate of suicide compared with male and female postgraduates.
"If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them that you care," Olivia added.
"Mind surveyed people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts and the majority told us their thoughts had been interrupted, so I think suicide is preventable."
Where to get help
You can find a list of mental health services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough here.