Beach walk returns to help raise suicide awareness

Swansea University has once again joined forces with PAPYRUS to host a beach walk to help raise suicide awareness.

This year’s HOPEWALK will take place on Sunday, October 13 in aid of PAPYRUS, the suicide prevention charity which offers confidential support and advice to young people.

University staff, students and members of the public who want to take part should meet at the Secret Beach Bar and Kitchen on Mumbles Road, Swansea at 10am.

The three-mile circular walk heads towards Blackpill along the beach and seafront footpath.

Now in its sixth year in Swansea, participants have raised more than £2,200 for the charity and Student Life’s mental health and counselling manager Sian Bengeyfield has taken part each year.

She said: “It is a wonderful event, and we are proud to work with PAPYRUS to raise suicide awareness and promote support for the invaluable and lifesaving work it does with young people in our community.

“Here at Swansea, we consider mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention a priority and partnering with vital services such as Papyrus allows us to develop and support our skills in this area.“

PAPYRUS is running a series of HOPEWALKS across the UK during October.  Anyone who would like to participate in the Swansea event should register and/or donate via the JustGIVING page 

In the UK, more young people die from suicide than any other cause: the event’s aim is to raise awareness to help young people access the support they need.

PAPYRUS also believes that many young suicides are preventable. It operates HOPELINE247, a confidential call, text, and email helpline for young people with thoughts of suicide or those of any age concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide.  Every £1 raised goes towards paying for a potentially life-saving contact to HOPELINE247.

For further information, please contact Carl Ely: c.k.ely@swansea.ac.uk