“They’re just tragedies, young people who felt they had nowhere to turn”

A Burnley church is launching free weekly walk-in sessions to support anyone concerned about suicide.

St Matthew’s with Holy Trinity in Albion Street will start the sessions on Tuesday, November 3rd. They will take place every Tuesday throughout winter from 2-4pm in the church hall.

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerned about a loved is welcome to attend and can expect a warm space to have a brew and speak with trained counsellors from The Oasis, a mental health CIC.

Fr Alex Frost, a vicar at St Matthew’s, decided to help tackle suicide rates in the town after seeing the impact of recent tragedies on the community.

“We’ve done a couple of recent suicide funerals and they’re just tragedies, young people who felt they had nowhere to turn, and the knock-on effect on families really upset me. It’s just awful to see it. It breaks my heart that some young people are even thinking about it,” said Fr Alex.

Anyone across Burnley who might be unsure where to go for help can be signposted to additional support services in the area, if needed. One-to-one counselling can also be made available for anyone in immediate crisis.

“[The drop-in sessions] are for someone who is actually thinking about suicide or family members who are worried, who’ve seen signs and don’t know where to turn to,” said Fr Alex.

“There are some fabulous charities out there, but I think people need immediate places to go, and that’s not always there. Sometimes people just need a conversation to come down from where they are. When I speak to people who feel desperate, they need some reassurance they can get through it. Sometimes people feel they can’t talk to their families because there’s a sense of shame.”

He added: “Hopefully, we’ll build a little community, but if just one person comes and it stops them from doing anything, it will be worth it.”

If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or are worried about someone who might be, support is available right now by calling NHS 111, which is open 24 hours every day. You can also contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight daily.