Minister praises work of Community Champions in Suicide Awareness

Local MS Huw Irranca-Davies invited Jayne Bryant MS, Minister for Mental Health and Early Years to meet with members of the Ogmore Valley Suicide Awareness Group following Huw’s highlighting their incredible work during a debate in the Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru

Both visitors received a warm welcome from the members of this grassroots organisation, some of whom had been touched by suicide themselves, and who are working hard in our communities to raise awareness of and help prevent suicide.

During the visit at the Ogmore Vale Bowls Club, the Minister for Mental Health showed great interest in hearing about the group’s ambition to create a safe place, for people to have confidence to talk about suicide and to learn about skills and coping mechanisms to help them through times of crisis.  She also heard how the group are active in developing community champions, providing grief and loss support, wellbeing support, and information and awareness sessions, often with various local groups and sporting organisations.

Speaking after the visit, long-time supporter Huw Irranca-Davies MS said: “Both the Minister and I would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the members of the Ogmore Valley Suicide Awareness Group. The fantastic work they do is helping raise awareness of the support available, encouraging people to have ‘those conversations’, and helping to prevent suicide by working closely with many other community organisations. You can pop along to their coffee mornings for a friendly chat with a lovely bunch of people, and for further information and advice, or go to their Facebook pages too.”

Challenging the myths and removing the stigma around suicide is so important. Please spread the word about the work of the Ogmore Valley Suicide Awareness Group, and get in touch if you can help them at all.

And remember, you are not alone. Reach out if you need urgent support:  Ring NHS 111 and press 2