Kent’s rising male suicide rate prompts Kent County Council to launch campaign to tackle problem

Kent County Council are launching a new campaign to reduce the number of male suicides in the county.

A study by Kent Public Health Observatory and Public Health England found the rate of suicide in Kent was higher than the national average and was the leading killer of men under 45.

In 2014, there were 163 registered suicides of which 128 were men.

The “Release the Pressure” campaign was developed by exploring the pressures that men are under and in-depth interviews were conducted with men who shared their experiences and feelings that led them to contemplate suicide.

Images will be displayed at key sites across the county and will be promoted on social media, urging people to seek help by calling a free help-line provided by Mental Health Matters.

The help-line is managed by trained and experienced staff available 24 hours a day all year round.

Public health programme manager at Kent County Council, Tim Woodhouse, said: “Through the campaign we want to reach men who may be going through a rough patch in their lives and encourage them to call the helpline and get help.

“By raising the issue of suicide in Kent, and by highlighting that so many people are dying as a result we hope to breakdown some of the stigma around feeling depressed and anxious and make it more acceptable to seek help.’

Problems such as debt, relationship breakdowns, stress and feelings of hopelessness, guilt and anger are some of the many problems that cause immense pressure amongst men.

Images as part of the campaign will show the head of a man with words and quotes from real men in Kent which explains how they felt when contemplating suicide.

Louise Piper, who heads the East Kent Mental Health Commission, said: “Men do not talk or communicate like women do. They tend to bottle things up and when they are with friends they do not talk about emotional issues whereas women do.

“The more we talk about it the more we normalise it and say ‘it’s OK to talk and not to feel great all the time’.”

If you want to talk to an expert in mental health call 0800 107 0160 or alternatively visit www.releasethepressure.uk for more information.