From time to time in this job, I encounter people whose lives have been turned upside down by unfathomable circumstances. I spoke with Suzanne Julian at the Headlight Project last week and it just reminded me of how important it is to pause and think about how we are feeling – men in particular are much less likely to speak about things that are troubling them.
Founded in memory of Russ Devereux, the Headlight Project aims to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in the Tees Valley area through therapy of those bereaved by suicide and preventative education and training.
The Headlight Project provides counselling and therapeutic support for anyone in the Tees Valley who has been bereaved by suicide. It offers specialist 1-2-1 counselling, play therapy for children, various trauma therapies and support groups. To refer yourself or someone you know for their services please visit https://www.headlightproject.org/need-support/
The Headlight Project firmly believes that suicide is a community problem, and everyone can help. Through its awareness presentations and campaigns, evidence-based training, and workshops, it aims to provide our local community with the knowledge and skills to help reduce the number of deaths by suicide.
There is a FREE one hour “Shine a Light on Suicide & Prevention” presentation, which is suitable for anyone to attend age 16+, and it also has some fully funded places available for SafeTALK. For all the details and to book your place, please follow the link to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/headlight-project-56924450243
The Boro Man Can website is full of content can enable men to think through and find solutions to the things that are worrying them. As a man who sometimes struggles, I am saying check it out: https://www.boromancan.co.uk/index.php
John Atkinson
MVDA
Community Action and Development Officer at MVDA.