A new public health campaign launching today ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day hopes to encourage people to talk more openly about mental health and potentially save their life in the process.

The ‘How Are You Really Feeling’ campaign aims to reduce the stigma of talking about mental health.

The Towards Zero Suicide collaborative has run a series of conferences in Truro over the last year, finding ways of working to reduce suicides towards zero. The campaign emerged from an idea at the conferences to create something to help reduce the stigma of mental health and get people talking about it more openly.

Dr Sara Roberts, consultant in public hHealth for Cornwall Council, said: ‘If you’re worried that someone you know may be considering suicide, try to encourage them to talk about how they are feeling. Listening is the best way to help. Try to avoid offering solutions and try not to judge. 

‘We’re asking communities to take up the offer of putting a box full of leaflets somewhere ‘normal’ such as a coffee shop, hairdresser, barber, petrol station or newsagent. We want talking about mental health to become a normal part of our day.’

The campaign also includes 10 top things to do to improve mental health such as eating well, being physically active, doing something you enjoy, and asking for help.

You can find out more about the campaign at www.cornwall.gov.uk/howareyou