NHS launching new mental health scheme in Lancashire on World Suicide Prevention Day

They are launching the Orange Button Community Scheme today, which is World Suicide Prevention Day today.

The scheme, which has been inspired by the death of a charity worker, aims to make it easier for people who are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or family member, to ask for information and support.

People who have undergone extensive suicide prevention training can wear a distinctive orange badge with a button that those in need can push to be signposted to relevant services. There is also an orange button sticker that can be supplied to businesses and organisations such as cafes, shops and pubs, to place in a prominent window alerting people to trained staff available to help.

Rebecca Chesworth, scheme founder, said: “The idea for Orange Button came about after the suicide of one of the members of a mental health charity I worked at. Andy was a very popular and supportive member. I had worked very closely with him as he battled with suicidal thoughts and overwhelming shame. He took his own life close to where I live and close to a venue of the charity. It was just 30 minutes until the charity would open.

“I thought if there had been a place in the community close by that he could go to in order to access help instantly that it might have made all the difference to him. I saw that there were shops close by which were open, and I came up with the idea for a community scheme: The Orange Button.

"The Orange Button is an instantly recognisable symbol and offers an easy way to ask for help. The idea is that anyone, in the community, with training in suicide awareness can help those of us who are struggling with our mental health to access immediate help and support.”

Paul Hopley, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS Mental Health Deputy Director, hopes it will encourage people to open up about their struggles as early as possible.

He said: “The Orange Button scheme is a way of recognising individuals who have had suicide awareness training - a community initiative, to help provide people with very early information and support. Having people identifiable as being suicide aware, can help to remove the stigma of talking about yours or others feelings. Anyone worried can seek the help of any individual wearing the badge, and they will signpost that person to suitable support.

“Suicide prevention really is everybody’s business – so building a community of orange button wearers in our area is an innovative scheme we’re pleased to be a part of.

“If you need information or signposting to support, push the orange button. Anyone struggling should call Samaritans on 116 123 or any of the organisations we have listed on our website healthierlsc.co.uk/MentalHealthSupport.”

Tommy McIlravey, chief executive of Lancashire Mind, is reassuring anyone struggling with their mental health that there are thousands of caring people on hand to help them.

He added: “It can be hard to talk about suicide. Just the thought of having a conversation about it is scary for many people. However, we have seen thousands of people across Lancashire show they want to do more by enrolling on one of our suicide prevention training programmes.

"We ensure they leave our training programmes with not just the confidence to support people who have disclosed suicidal thoughts; but also, to be able to start those difficult conversations when they are worried about someone."

To find out more about the training on offer please visit https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/orange-button/