Norfolk and Waveney Mind encourage hope this Suicide Prevention Day
Fundraising and community involvement encouraged by Norfolk and Waveney Mind
Norfolk and Waveney Mind are urging people to think of suicide prevention as a daily commitment, not just on World Suicide Prevention Day, which falls today (10th September) this year.
For this reason, their campaign for this years suicide prevention event is all about spreading hope.
The campaign, themed "Hope Lives Here," brings together communities across Norfolk and Waveney to raise awareness of suicide prevention, combat stigma around mental health conversations, and inspire hope in various forms.
Part of the campaign encourages individuals to participate by photographing places, people, or comforts that bring them hope and sharing these images on social media, tagging three friends and using a virtual pin provided by Norfolk and Waveney Mind.
Fundraising, donations, and sharing messages of hope are encouraged as part of the event.
Organisers hope that by sharing things on social media, it will bring people together, and break down stigma more than words.
Participants are also encouraged to spend 90 minutes doing activities that offer hope, such as sports or crafts, as part of a fundraising effort.
Approximately 90 people die by suicide annually in Norfolk, impacting thousands of families, friends, colleagues, and community members.
In 2025 alone the charity received 200 referrals into their suicide bereavement service.
That's why, Nicole O'Malley, the fundraising support officer at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, says it important to promote hope for everyone, because suicide can effect more than just the person:
"it's really difficult to know what support is available and what is out there. And there's also a lot of stigma attached. So what we're hoping is that by dominating the spaces and having our messaging that Hope does live here,
That people feel as though it is okay to have conversations around mental health and to really discuss how they're feeling"
Sophie Todd, the Marketing and Communications Officer at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, urges people to remember the topic year roud:
"Suicide prevention is not just a day of the year. It's not just for that world suicide prevention day. It's an everyday thing and it's for everyone and it's all mental health services.
it's important that we don't only spread the message today, but that carries on and it's a constant reminder that support is here and hope is here, no matter what you're going through and how extreme it feels" she said.