Men are again being told that ‘it’s okay to talk’.
In the run up to World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place tomorrow, SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has supported a campaign at Westminster aimed at letting men know that ‘It’s okay to talk’ and to get help before problems become overwhelming.
The event outside Parliament this week brought together suicide prevention charities – including Samaritans and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) – to promote this year’s theme of ‘Connect, Communicate, Care’ and to help raise awareness that three times as many men as women kill themselves in the UK.
Mr Durkan said: “We urgently need to tackle this issue which is claiming far too many lives.
“Statistics show that men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women and that suicide is the biggest single killer of men who are middle-aged or younger.
“I am therefore delighted to support this important campaign which highlights the need for more effective suicide prevention and encourages men to use the help and support that is out there when life feels overwhelming.”
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