Region to mark World Suicide Prevention Day with candlelit vigil

Greater Manchester will join a global initiative to mark today's World Suicide Prevention Day with an inaugural public candlelit vigil, hosted by the Salford mental health charity START, which is in its 25th anniversary year.

The vigil will take place 6.30pm tonight (Monday), at The Lowry Plaza, directly in front of The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays.

Greater Manchester over the last five years has lost 1,279 loved ones, family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours to suicide.

The vigil will remember those that we have lost and demonstrate to those that are grieving the loss of loved ones to suicide that our community is here for them with this mass demonstration of support.

It will contribute towards smashing the stigma that is associated with suicide and contribute to our community enabling people to discuss suicide and to disclose when they are experiencing suicidal thoughts and enable lives to be saved.

The vigil will include Vikie Shanks, whose husband Paul was 51 when he took his own life in 2007 leaving behind her and their seven kids - six of whom are autistic.

‘Kingdom of Us’ is a documentary on Netflix that follows the Shanks family’s struggle in the wake of Paul’s death over the next three years as they tried to come to terms with their loss.

Vikie said: “Suicide is the ultimate statement of a person who can’t find a path through life. 

"We need so much more awareness and understanding of both the people who take their own lives and the people they leave behind, but, most of all, we need to change the routes by which people are able to seek help and allow concerned friends and family to raise the alert. 

"Then, we need appropriate help available which currently isn’t being offered, I know from personal experience. 

"I feel honoured to be a part of such an important day, events like this raise so much awareness, and with that, comes understanding, love and change.”

Poet Marvin Cheeseman, who lives with bipolar, said of his involvement: “I feel very honoured to be involved with START's World Suicide Prevention Day vigil.

"Mental Health is a subject very close to my heart having spent all my adult life contending with bipolar disorder.

"Mental Health problems, even in these enlightened times, carry a stigma.

"We need to do our very best to empathise with those that are struggling, be supportive and understanding.

"We have a duty of care to one another - always remember: you have the power to make a crucial difference that could save someone's life.”

Andy Burnham, GM Mayor, Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, and Prof Louis Appleby, Chair National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group will also be speaking at the vigil with Daniel Brocklebank from Coronation Street, reading the roll of remembrance.

If you would like to add your loved ones name to the remembrance roll that will be read out at the vigil or further information please email: Dennis.baldwin@startinspiringminds.org.uk or via social media @reachoutstes 

Help and support is available right now if you need it.

You don't have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day. 

Tel: 116 123 (free to call) Email: jo@samaritans.org Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

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