Dozens of shopkeepers, tattooists and other independent retailers across Portsmouth will be given specialist training in how to recognise when customers are having suicidal thoughts, and how to offer to help, thanks to a grant from Portsmouth Community Lottery.
Tonic Music for Mental Health have been awarded £2,000 to pilot two four-hour suicide first aid courses.
40 local independent retailers will be able to attend these courses free of charge in order to learn how to spot when someone may be having suicidal thoughts, how to approach starting a potentially tricky conversation and how signpost them to appropriate help.
Suicide First Aid Tutor Jade Hughes will be leading the courses. She said: “It’s not always family and friends who are the first to notice signs that someone may be suicidal.
“It might be that a shopkeeper has noticed a change in behaviour - maybe someone’s stockpiling medication, or purchasing alcohol more frequently.
“Or people might open up to a bartender, hairdresser or tattoo artist in a way they might not to those closest to them.
“We want to give independent retailers the ability to recognise the warning signs and to feel confident in approaching that conversation.”
Tonic Music for Mental Health has approached a number of retailers directly, and would like to hear from others who are interested in attending a course via teamtonic@tonicmusic.co.uk.
The charity was one of five local groups and organisations who between them received more than £5,000 thanks to Portsmouth Community Lottery grants last month (June).
Also benefitting were Portsmouth Film Society, Southsea Badminton Club, Endometriosis South Coast and Community Kettle.
Portsmouth Film Society, which runs Southsea Cinema and Arts Club, received £1,000 which will go towards safety and accessibility improvements including baby change facilities, a safety report and changes to the fire exit.
Subsidised badminton training will be delivered by Southsea Badminton Club to encourage people to take up and revisit the sport thanks to a grant of £1,000 which was given to the club.
Endometriosis South Coast received £500 for rebranding, including their logo, website and promotional materials, to reflect the fact that the charity is an inclusive organisation supporting all those affected by endometriosis and adenomyosis.
Not-for profit community venture Community Kettle, which works to support families, increase elderly inclusion, decrease social isolation and promote mental wellbeing, also received a grant of £540 to help them shout about the work they do.
Portsmouth Community Lottery is run by HIVE Portsmouth. Chair of HIVE Portsmouth Trustees Revd Canon Bob White said: “Portsmouth Community Lottery was launched to raise money within the community for the community.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support such a range of groups or organisations which are so committed to improving the lives of the people of Portsmouth.”
If you’re involved in a local group or organisation and would like to find out more about how your group could benefit from the Portsmouth Community Lottery, please visit www.hiveportsmouth.org.uk/portsmouth-community-lottery-1
Portsmouth Community Lottery supports good causes in the city, with 60% of ticket sakes going directly to those causes. Sign up for just £1 a ticket – and a chance to win a jackpot of £25,000 – at www.portsmouthlottery.co.uk