A NEW campaign is being launched in in the Dudley borough to encourage people to talk about suicide and raise awareness of support services available.

Dudley’s Suicide Prevention Partnership, championed by Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board, has launched the borough-wide suicide awareness campaign.

The ‘reach out’ campaign aims to improve suicide awareness, offer support to people and encourage those affected by suicide to speak up.

A new website – reachoutdudley.co.uk – has been created and signposts people towards support services, people and organisations who can offer help and it will be accompanied by a poster campaign on bus shelters, council billboards and in community settings.

Councillor Cathy Bayton, Dudley's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "In today’s world, fast-paced and full of pressures as it is, suicide rates continue to be much higher than we would like.

"In Dudley, approximately one person dies every fortnight.

"Nationally, three quarters of those who die as the result of suicide are not known to specialist services nor do they have diagnosed mental health disorders.

"We want to raise awareness through this campaign. It’s especially important at this time of year, when there can be additional pressures on people.

"We want to show there is always a way out and a way forward, that there are groups and people out there who can help.

"I would urge anyone having such thoughts to have a look on the website, to make that first contact, take that first step and reach out."

The campaign will run until January 31 – but support will continue to be available beyond that via the new website.

A new five-year Dudley Suicide Prevention Plan, which has an overall aim of zero suicides in the borough by 2023, has also been launched and will look to improve training for staff, raise awareness and target high risk groups to offer more support and guidance.