Hull’s You Are Not Alone suicide prevention campaign has been recognised as an example of national best practice.
And other areas across the UK have been encouraged to develop similar campaigns with young people.
The Hull suicide prevention campaign has been designed and developed by young people aged from 11 to 20 as part of the HeadStart Hull initiative, a partnership programme led by Hull City Council.
The campaign included creating a soundscape of positive messages to reach out to vulnerable people played at locations across Hull, alongside training for staff in schools and community services to support young people.
During the campaign young people co-produced a website providing information and advice on this and other mental health issues impacting on young people’s lives.
It has now been included as a best practice case study on the Local Government Association’s website.
Headstart Hull is an asset-based mental health and resilience programme which works on prevention and early intervention and offers a range of services and interventions for supporting young people’s emotional health and well-being.
Gail Teasdale, programme lead for HeadStart Hull, said: “We are very proud that the work of these young people has now been highlighted by the Local Government Association and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.
“The You Are Not Alone campaign is all about challenging the stigma associated with mental health and suicide, influencing decisions and raising awareness. This recognition is a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of the young people leading this campaign to address an issue that many find difficult to talk about.”
To mark the two-year anniversary of the campaign, poems created as part of the initiative have been collected in a illustrated book. Downloaded the book for free here.
