Brent councillors have urged people to undertake free online training in suicide prevention to help make it a zero-suicide borough.
Members of Brent Council’s health and wellbeing board highlighted the programme offered by the ‘Zero Suicide Alliance’ which aims to have at least 100,000 participants across London.
Its 20-minute training shows how to identify when someone is feeling suicidal, how to provide comfortable support and where to effectively direct them for further help.
It was launched on September 10 – world suicide prevention day – and noted that the number of Londoners taking their own lives, at 12 each week, needs addressing.
Cllr Krupesh Hirani, responsible for public health at Brent Council, said: “I’ve taken the training and it’s very simple to follow.
“It would be great to get as many people as possible from Brent to contribute to the 100,000 target.”
The health and wellbeing board agreed that councillors and council staff should look to complete the training.
Those who spend much of their time working with people, particularly vulnerable groups, will also benefit from the scheme.
Brent Council chief executive praised the initiative and said it is important that the council focuses on prevention.
She added it is particularly important to support schemes involving young people and that they should have greater access to mental health services.
The board’s report into mental wellbeing in the borough noted the work of ‘Youth Mental Health First Aid’, which trains people on how to effectively support young people on mental health.
Brent aims to have at least one mental health first aider in every school, sixth form, college and alternative provision centres by 2021.