Suicide Prevention Awareness (One Croydon Training)
Meeting notes and resources - September 2025
This Suicide Prevention Awareness session was delivered by Mind – West Central London for Croydon’s frontline workers as part of the One Croydon Training programme. Elfie Lyon and Steven Gill expertly steered us around; debunking myths, exploring language to use when talking about suicide, how to ask directly about suicide and signposting to support and more on this topic.
Trainers:
Elfie Lyon, Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator Elyon@wclmind.org.uk
Steven Gill, Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator Sgill@wclmind.org.uk
Resources
- Downloadable Suicide Safety Plans from Papyrus or Samaritans:
Papyrus Suicide Safety Plan | Samaritans Suicide Safety Plan
- Hub of Hope is a brilliant resource for finding support available in your local area:
- Stress Test: https://www.stress.org.uk/individual-stress-test/.
Safety Plan: Helps prevent turning thoughts into actions. https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/safety-planning/
- Suicide Prevention Champion: A Suicide Prevention Champion is aware of and able to recognise the signs of someone who is struggling and offers a compassionate and non-judgemental ear to support anyone who may be in crisis. Our Champions play a vital role in creating a safer and more supportive community. By becoming a Champion, you become part of a cause that is actively working to break barriers, reduce shame, and promote transparent conversations about mental health.
Eligibility: Anyone over 18, must live or work in one in the London boroughs of Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston, Croydon, Richmond, or Merton.
Experience: Lived experience of suicidal ideation or self-harm, Bereavement by suicide, Professional experience supporting someone who has experienced suicide, Passion for mental health and suicide prevention
If you’d like to find out more/chat about becoming a Suicide Prevention Champion email Elyon@wclmind.org.uk
Suicide Prevention Support in Croydon
Children and Young People
- Off the Record Croydon: free counselling for children and young people (age 14 – 25)
W: https://www.talkofftherecord.org/croydon/
- Jigsaw4u: Run different programmes including 1-1 support for children and young people (age 11 – 24) experiencing depression, and/or anxiety W: https://jigsaw4u.org.uk/what-we-do/
- Croydon Drop In: Offer free counselling for children and young people (age 10 – 25). Outreach team travel around the borough on the ‘talk bus’. W: https://croydondropin.org.uk/young-people/counselling/
Adults
- Croydon BME Forum – Wellness Centre: Drop in centre, wellbeing activities and workshops
W: https://www.cbmeforum.org/the-wellness-centre/
- Mind in Croydon offers crisis support, peer support, carers support, social activities and benefits help. W: https://www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/
- Open Minds, Open Doors: Adult’s service for people in crisis, offering short- and long-term support. W: https://www.openmindssocialcare.co.uk/
- Croydon Refugee Centre: Programmes for refugees and asylum seekers, including family support, social activities, language, advice and guidance and a women’s group.
W: https://croydonrefugeedaycentre.co.uk/
- Croydon’s Two’s Company Befriending: offers weekly telephone befriending calls
National Mental Health Support, help lines & resources
- Rethink Mental Illness improve the lives of people severely affected by mental health illness through network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning https://www.rethink.org/
- Samaritans: T: 116 123 (lines open 24 hours every day)
- Sane Line: 0300 304 7000 (lines open 4.30 pm – 10.30 pm every day)
- SHOUT: Text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258
- Stay Alive Smartphone App (downloadable) W: https://stayalive.prevent-suicide.org.uk/
- Campaign against Living Miserably (CALM) Helpline: Free, confidential, anonymous T: 80800 585858 | W:
https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
- NHS 111 service: https://111.nhs.uk/ *Dial 999 in an emergency, or if there is an immediate threat to your life
- NHS Talking Therapies Service involves GP referral or self-referral to talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and self-guided self-help for common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
- Neurodiversity Suicide Prevention Hub: https://prevent-suicide.org.uk/neurodiversity-suicide-prevention-hub/
- Overcome: Free, online 1:1 mental health coaching: W: https://www.overcome.org.uk/
- Downloadable Suicide Safety Plans from Papyrus or Samaritans: Papyrus Suicide Safety Plan | Samaritans Suicide Safety Plan
National Mental Health Suppor for Children & Young People
- Alumina: Free online Self-harm support for 10 –17-year-olds W: https://www.selfharm.co.uk/
- Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH): Self Harm and suicide
W: https://www.acamh.org/topic/self-harm-suicide/
- Calm Harm app: App for children and young people to help manage the urge to self-harm
W: https://calmharm.stem4.org.uk/
- Childline Helpline: T: 0800 1111 | W: https://www.childline.org.uk/
- Good Thinking: Website resources including a list of NHS approved apps for under 18’s
W:https://www.good-thinking.uk/free-apps-for/apps-young-people
- Young Minds – Self Harm: W: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/self-harm |
Stress bucket resource: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/stress-bucket-activity/
Croydon Voluntary Action Resources
- CVA Online Directories and Booklets: Mental Health & Wellbeing support in Croydon | Rough Sleepers Support in Croydon | Foodbanks in Croydon | | Autism Support in Croydon | Debt Advice Services in Croydon - can be found here
- One Croydon and other training for groups: CVA Events Training - Croydon Voluntary Action (cvalive.org.uk