PEOPLE are being encouraged to learn potentially lifesaving skills by completing online training that encourages participants to know it’s OK to Ask someone about suicide.

The Zero Suicide Alliance offers free 20-minute sessions which talk explain how to help people who may be struggling with their mental health.

So far hundreds of people across St Helens have completed the training.

Suicide rates locally are among the highest in the country and there are concerns the stresses people are experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic will put increased strain on people's mental health and wellbeing.

Earlier this year St Helens Council pledged to make the training available to everybody in the borough.

The message to tackle the free online 20-minute training comes as a new campaign launches across the region encouraging people to be Kind to your Mind with further support on how to look after your own mental wellbeing.

Kind to your Mind has been developed by Champs Public Health Collaborative and the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership and includes a 24 hour phone line to get help whenever you might need it.

With podcasts among the range of help talking about building resilience, mental health, nutrition, physical activity and sleep, there is plenty of support out there for individuals too.

Councillor Anthony Burns, cabinet member for Public Health, Leisure and Libraries, said: “Lockdown can be a very anxious experience for many people which is why it is important that we are all taking care not just of our own mental wellbeing but that of other people too.

"Ok2Ask is our campaign drawing on great resources like the Zero Suicide Alliance training to help equip us all to better deal with the issue of suicide and how we can all play a part in tackling it.

“The free training takes just 20 minutes of your time, and as we all might be finding it difficult to try and find something different to do at home this is a great opportunity to learn some really useful information that might just one day save the life of someone you care about.

“Be Kind to your Mind is also a great resource for everyone to take a look at and find out how we can all take simple steps to look after ourselves too.”

To find out more about how to complete the training and for further details on Ok2Ask visit www.oktoaskcampaign.co.uk.

Visit https://kindtoyourmind.org/ for more details or call the 24-hour helpline support on 01925 275309.