How Can we Reduce the Suicides in Wigan?

In recent years, Wigan has seen a significant increase in the number of suicides.

Currently, the borough has a rate of around 12 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people which is 2 above the national average (which has slowly risen since the year 2000).

Anecdotally, on my own social media feeds in the last few months I have seen 5-10 deaths of acquaintances/friends of friends by suicide (and that is by no means everyone in the Wigan Borough).

This is not only concerning but also alarming for the local community and authorities alike.

As members of this community, we cannot ignore this issue any longer, things need to be looked at and action taken.

How can we reduce the rise of suicide rates in our town?

It is a question that needs urgent attention and one that I believe, our Wigan Council needs to be at the forefront of.

Understanding The Root Causes of Suicide in Wigan

Understanding the root causes of suicide in Wigan is crucial to reducing its increasing rates.

It is not enough to simply have resources for those who may be struggling that know about or can’t access; we must also examine look to see what moves a person along from good mental health, to ok mental health, to bad mental health to worse mental health.

So, for example, I look at this as a form of ‘mental health spectrum’ of a straight line (just to keep it simple) where green (for good mental health) is at the start on the left and red (for worse) is at the end on the right (as per image I have created below).

Mental Health Spectrum

The main presenting mental health issues tend to be around anxiety, depression, anger, and addiction to name a few.

These are all clear headings but under each one is any number of issues being root causes of suicide and moving people along the ‘mental health spectrum.’

We will see that there are many ‘root causes’ of suicide in Wigan, a lot of which are nuanced, therefore the key is highlight them and to work through them and their nuances.

A potential factor contributing to suicide in Wigan is social isolation.

As we are still suffering from the effects of Covid our world has become increasingly digital, people are spending more time alone than they ever have and in turn people are ‘bottling up’ feelings more than they have, simply due to not knowing, who to, how to and where to communicate these feelings.

Loneliness being a factor

Therefore, this can often lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection from others, which can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger new ones altogether.

By working with counsellors in a private capacity, through charities and/or at group events, individuals can learn how to build healthy relationships and improve their overall well-being.

Another possible cause of suicidal tendencies in Wigan could be financial hardship.

The economic downturn has hit many families hard, leaving them struggling to make ends meet and pay bills on time.

This added stressor can feel overwhelming and hopeless at times, leading some individuals down a dangerous path towards self-harm or worse.

Another one could be their employment, the stresses that it brings (the stresses being any number of things) from how they feel in the workplace, workload, pressure, working hours and colleagues to name a few.

Therefore, does the employer have and EAP service? Is the EAP service fit for purpose? What resources does the employer have for mental health?

Understanding the root causes of suicide in Wigan requires digging deep into the underlying issues that contribute to these tragic events.

One critical step toward achieving this goal is through access to counselling services offering support tailored specifically for individual needs.

Just being able to talk to someone

These professionals offer guidance on managing personal struggles such as social isolation or financial stressors that have been shown previously connected with risk factors relating directly towards suicidal behaviour patterns.

Increasing Access to Mental Health Services and Support

Reducing the increase in suicides in Wigan is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach.

One possible solution is to increase access to mental health services and support.

This suggests that by providing individuals with the help they need or at very least show them where these services and support are, we can prevent suicide attempts from occurring.

For example, imagine a person who feels alone and unsupported struggling with their mental health, all they may need is a the right service or support by way of counselling, resource, group event etc.

Without anything at all they may feel like there is no way out of their situation, leading them to contemplate self-harm or suicide.

However, if this individual had access to professional counselling or therapy sessions, they could learn valuable coping mechanisms for managing stress and anxiety.

With increased support and guidance from mental health professionals, they may be able to overcome their struggles and move forward positively with their lives.

Alternatively, if they were that there was a group event where they could be around other like-minded people, just to share what they are going through, that could alleviate some of that pressure that is building up inside of them - just like taking a kettle of boiling water off a hot stove as the steam begins to whistle.

Light of hope in the darkness

By increasing access to mental health services and support, we can improve overall community wellbeing while reducing rates of suicide in Wigan.

This is where I feel Wigan Council can do more in this area.

The borough of Wigan is seeing some real investment for growth and change, especially in Wigan town centre, where hopefully it will become a beacon of light to a town that really needs it.

However, all this growth and redevelopment is not going to help the borough if its residents are moving more and more along the ‘mental health spectrum’ towards the red.

I believe Wigan Council needs to do more try and help its residents to either stay in a safe part of the ‘mental health spectrum’ or bring them further away from the red part of it.

Shine a light on the services in the borough

One of the major and simple ways to do this, is to shine a bright light on the services and promote, promote, promote them. I do have further ideas around this aswell.

Also, it is important to remember that everyone deserves care and attention when it comes to their mental health; seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength in knowing how much you matter.

Ultimately, strengthening community connections and promoting awareness and education are also crucial steps towards preventing suicides in Wigan.

By working together as a community, we can create an environment where people feel supported and connected rather than isolated and hopeless.

Strengthening Community Connections and Promoting Awareness and Education

Amidst rising numbers of suicides in Wigan, it is essential to explore all possible solutions.

While increasing access to mental health services and support remains a crucial aspect, we must also consider strengthening community connections and promoting awareness and education.

Just like how roots anchor trees into the ground, strong community connections can keep individuals grounded.

It's the feeling of belongingness that gives us purpose and motivation whether that be with family, friends, community but it has to start within oneself.

However, by fostering stronger relationships between people living in Wigan, we can create a supportive network where everyone feels valued and heard.

However, building such connections requires effort from both individuals and organizations alike.

Lets use the communities to help each other

This could mean organizing community events, group activities, talks in places of work, anything that bring people together or providing resources for those who need them.

Additionally, raising awareness about suicide prevention can help eliminate stigma around mental health issues while educating people on identifying warning signs.

Speaking at events, workplaces, etc

Now, there are alot of these events that happen across the borough at any one time in the month BUT no-one knows about them - Wigan Council needs to helps its residents to see these events and promote, promote, promote.

Let's strive towards creating an environment where every individual feels supported and connected with their fellow residents and their council.

Only then can we hope to see a reduction in the number of suicides in our town. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, reducing the increase in suicides in Wigan requires a multi-faceted approach.

By understanding the root causes of suicide and increasing access to mental health services and support, we can make progress towards preventing tragic outcomes.

Strengthening community connections and promoting awareness and education are also key factors in this effort.

Please don’t give up hope

Unfortunately, not every person can be saved, for any number reasons but can more people be saved, yes, will that then have a greater impact on those around them, yes, will that help the borugh in a positive way, yes.

Please don’t allow yourself or someone close to you to become in the red part of of the ‘mental health spectrum’ for a prolonged period of time, speak to someone today, or encourage them to speak to someone.