Promoting Suicide Safer Communities and providing Suicide Bereavement Support across Cumbria
In 2024 we will be launching peer-led suicide bereavement support groups in Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, Maryport and Workington.
Our monthly peer support group meetings are an opportunity to meet others who have lost someone to suicide in a safe and confidential space. Our groups are a place where you can share your experiences and feelings, and give and gain support from each other. The groups run in various locations across Cumbria at set times every month and are supported by volunteers from Every Life Matters who have personal experience of suicide bereavement.
Our online support group for people bereaved by suicide is a space to chat to others who understand some of the experiences you are going through, and to get information about events, helpful resources and other organisations providing support across the county and the UK.
The group exists to bring people to together in Cumbria who have lost a loved one to suicide, whether that be a family member, friend, colleague, neighbour or other person in your life.
Suicide Prevention Pocket Guides
Download our pocket guides Thinking about Suicide, Safety Planning, Worried about someone or continue reading our pages to find out more.
Wellbeing & Mental Health Guide
Covid-19, and now the cost of living crisis, has had a far reaching impact on our nations mental health. Its more important than ever that we take positive steps to look after our ourselves, to seek help when we need it, and check-in and support people around us.
Our revised Guide to looking after yourself and others contains practical information about things you can do now to look after your mental health and wellbeing, on how you can support others, and where to find support if you or others need it. Visit our Support Directory to find out more about where you can get help.
Self-harm Pocket Guides
As part of our Self-harm Safe Kit we have produced a range of pocket guides aimed at understanding, and finding ways to begin managing, self-harming behaviour.
Self-harm: What you need to know, Self-harm: A guide for parents and carers and Self-harm: Self-harm: Safe Plans We have also produced a guide to Local and National Support
Lets keep in touch
Get regular updates about Every Life Matters training, resources and events across Cumbria.
Support Directory
If you are really struggling to cope, or feel overwhelmed by difficult feelings, then reach out for professional help. It’s still available and it’s OK to ask for more support to see you through this difficult time.
Browse our Support Directory for more information about the Support and Services available to you across Cumbria, Nationally and Online.
Safety Planning
Many people will have thoughts of suicide – but thinking about suicide does not make it inevitable that you are going to take your own life. A safety plan helps prevent us turning these thoughts into actions.
Safety Plans take a stepped approach. They can help us manage those fleeting thoughts of suicide that emerge at the edge of your mind – through to situations where the desire to die becomes so overwhelming we no longer think we can keep yourself safe. Find out how to create a Safety Plan here.
Look after yourself. Get help early
Its natural to feel a little more stressed or overwhelmed right now. These are really challenging times. Some people may even be having thoughts of suicide. If you are really struggling to cope please reach out for help. There is hope, and you are not alone.
Focus Group Volunteers Recruitment
Every Life Matters a Cumbrian suicide prevention and suicide bereavement support charity. In summer 2020 we launched our Support After Suicide service for people in Cumbria bereaved and affected by suicide.
We work alongside Cumbria Police, and other local groups to support people in the early weeks and months after a suicide. Find out more about our Support After Suicide service here.
We are now recruiting volunteers with personal experience of bereavement by suicide to help us develop our service further, and improve support for people in Cumbria who have lost a loved one to suicide. Find out more
Thinking about suicide?
When life gets out of control it’s not unusual to feel really overwhelmed -...
read moreWorried about someone?
Are you concerned someone you know is having thoughts of suicide? Many, many people...
read moreBereaved by suicide?
Suicide bereavement is a unique loss. It has been described as one of the...
read moreSafety Planning
A Safety Plan includes what you would do, and who might support you, in...
read moreSelf-harm
Our Self-harm Safe Kits are a resource for anyone wanting to understand, and begin to...
read moreSupport Directory
Browse our directory for more information about the Support and Services available to you...
read more