Start A Conversation
Every life lost to suicide matters.
Every life lost to suicide can affect the mental health of so many people within the community.
Start a Conversation is committed to building a community that supports the mental health and wellbeing of people across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
Find where to get help for you, or for somebody you are worried about.
Help to support our messages to prevent suicide.
Find services and helplines that can help to provide specific advice.
Learn more about Start A Conversation and suicide prevention with events and training, for individuals and organisations.
Upcoming Events
Movember
Tue, 01 Nov 2022 - Wed, 30 Nov 2022
World Mental Health Day
Mon, 10 Oct 2022
World Suicide Prevention Day
Sat, 10 Sep 2022
World Suicide Prevention Day Conference 2022
Fri, 09 Sep 2022
About Us
The impact of suicide can affect everyone in the community. Every life lost to suicide matters and represents someone's child, partner, parent, friend or co-worker. Across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland everyone can make a contribution to prevent suicide.
Start a Conversation is a suicide prevention campaign that aims to build a community that is committed to the mental health and wellbeing of its residents. A non-judging environment where care and support is available to those in distress or those bereaved or affected by suicide. Through a raised awareness and open and honest conversations about suicide we believe that every person has the potential to make a difference and save a life.
The campaign is led by Leicestershire County Council working in partnership with a number of organisations, from a variety of sectors from the community, that have come together with a commitment to prevent suicide.
Through our #StartAConversation campaign we would like residents and communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to be more aware of the warning signs of suicidal behaviour and to have an open and honest approach to conversations about suicide. In this way we can work together to prevent suicide.
Start A Conversation, Get The Ball Rolling
In the last 3 years death by suicide in males has increased in England by more than 3%. Start A Conversation has partnered with United Leicester and Everards, to encourage men to talk about mental health by using sport as a gateway.
If one of the key players in your life has been distant recently, get the ball rolling and start a conversation. Quite often, small talk can lead to big changes.
Coronavirus Support
The unprecedented lockdowns and the uncertainty about life returning to normal can take its toll on our mental health. If you are concerned for yourself or a loved ones mental health and wellbeing, here a list of services that can offer expert advice and support to help available to residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
For the latest UK Government advice on the Coronavirus outbreak, please read the Gov web page here.
For urgent help call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously harmed themselves; or you do not feel able to keep yourself, or somebody else, safe.
If you need help urgently for your mental health, but it's not an emergency, or you are struggling to cope, call NHS 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment.
The NHS Central Access Point is a local alternative to NHS 111 for urgent mental health needs. Call 0808 800 3302.
