The first of three workshops which aim to reduce the risk of suicide in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be launching on July 25 at the Knowledge Spa in Truro.

The ‘Towards Zero Suicides’ events are being hosted by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) and Cornwall Council, and those from public, private and voluntary sectors have been invited to attend.

The events take inspiration from the USA’s ‘Zero Suicide’ movement, which is based on the belief that suicide deaths for individuals being cared for within health systems are preventable. To explore this idea, workshops will be held throughout the day at all of the events, looking into self-harm, mental health care, access to means, information available to the public and reducing stigma.

Zero suicides is an ambitious target; but the latest confirmed figures indicate that there were 86 deaths in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as a result of suicide or self-injury in 2014, above the national average.

Examples of work already begun in Cornwall include a prescribing review for patients who are at risk of suicide; suicide prevention training for trainee GPs and carers of people with a mental illness; and last month a team of partners including CFT, Cornwall Council, St Austell Brewery, the Samaritans and BBC Radio Cornwall launched the ‘Don’t Flush Your Life Away’ poster campaign, which is displayed in pub toilets, GP surgeries and other public areas across Cornwall.

Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Telephone: 116 123 (calls to this number are free). Email: [email protected]