Blackburn with Darwen Public Health

10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Many families, friends and loved ones are affected by su***de every day.

Dily’s, a We Are Undefeatable story teller, has faced anxiety for most of her life and after the loss of her husband her mental health deteriorated further. Overwhelmed by grief, Dilys found herself in a deep depression, struggling to find the will to keep going.

After the GP signposted Dily’s to the gardening club she realised meeting new people and having a weekly event to look forward to has made her time at home feel less lonely and more fulfilling.

This is your sign to reach out for help if you or a loved one are struggling as many health professionals, mental health services and local residents are ready to provide you with the help you need 😊

We will also be marking this day by having a 40 second silence, highlighting the tragic fact that one person dies of su***de globally every 40 seconds during the vigil held outside of Blackburn Town Hall. There will be a host of local and regional organisations that can help people affected by su***de. Stalls with mental health information and advice will be open outside Blackburn Town Hall from 11.30am.

If you would like to show your support please drop by to attend the World Su***de Prevention Day vigil from 11.30 am onwards.

To read more on Dily’s story click here https://bewellbwd.com/active-living-dilys/

For more information on the World Su***de Day Prevention event click https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

09/09/2025

With World Su***de Prevention Day coming up tomorrow, we’ve shared some details of how we’re marking it here in BwD.

Our event will begin in Darwen, with a group walk leaving from Darwen Market Square at 10.30am – and anyone is welcome to join.

Walkers will make their way towards Blackburn town centre to join the vigil outside Blackburn Town Hall, which starts at 12.30pm. They will walk along the A666 with banners made by local groups, bearing messages of hope and support for anyone affected by su***de.

The vigil will include a 40 second silence, highlighting the tragic fact that one person dies of su***de globally every 40 seconds. There will be a host of local and regional organisations that can help people affected by su***de. Stalls with mental health information and advice will be open outside Blackburn Town Hall from 11.30am.

If you would like to show your support by participating in the walk from Darwen to Blackburn, please click here to register

https://bewellbwd.com/https-bewellbwd-com-category-news/world-su***de-prevention-day/

Get all the details on tomorrows World Su***de Day event at

https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

08/09/2025

Groups of different people have been busy crafting positive messages of hope for our World Su***de Prevention Day walk on Wednesdays.

Here’s some photos from last today's creative session in The Bureau - Centre for the Arts . They've got to work on making eye-catching banners to spread positivity and hope along the route of our walk.

The walk will leave Darwen town centre at 10.30am on Wednesday, walking along the A666 to Blackburn Rovers, then on to Blackburn town centre for our World Su***de Prevention Day event at 12.30pm.

There’s still time to register to join us on the walk this Wednesday. If you would like to register click the link below
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=4z_73MnpOkKh2hSKSzouYI8KVIuKt7FMm_8u0ifDwgNURU9TOUEzUjYwUFREQlI2T1NBN1daNkdORS4u&route=shorturl

08/09/2025

08/09/2025

Young people are at a higher risk of su***de. Would you know what to say to a young person who’s having suicidal thoughts, or where to signpost them to for support?

If the answer is ‘no’, consider taking a course in Mental Health First Aid for young people.

BwD BC Adult Learning have two courses coming up soon: one in September, the other in October.

Get the details of these Mental Health First Aid courses: https://bwdlearning.org/all-courses/?category=health-wellbeing

Becoming a Mental Health First Aider is one thing we can do to be able to support people struggling with their mental health or in a mental health crisis – and potentially prevent deaths by su***de.

World Su***de Prevention Day is coming up this week, on Wednesday 10 September. Find out more about how we’re marking it in Blackburn with Darwen: https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

06/09/2025

If you’ve been affected by su***de, you’re welcome to come along to our Su***de Prevention Day vigil this Wednesday, 10 September, in Blackburn. 🫶

The event starts at 12.30pm outside Blackburn Town Hall. We’ll be hearing from a few speakers whose lives have been touched by su***de, and hearing about the mental health support that’s on offer in Blackburn with Darwen.

The vigil will include a 40 second silence, highlighting the tragic fact that one person dies of su***de globally every 40 seconds.

From 11.30am a marketplace will be open, with stalls from lots of organisations that provide that support to local people affected by su***de.

You can get all the details on The Shuttle news website ➡ https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

There’s still time to register for our World Su***de Prevention Day walk from Darwen to Blackburn on Wednesday, 10 September – sign up using the link below.

The walk begins in Darwen, with a group walk leaving from Darwen Market Square at 10.30am – and anyone is welcome to join. 🚶🏼🚶🏾‍♂️🚶🏼‍♀️👩‍🦽

Walkers will make their way towards Blackburn along the A666 with banners made by local groups, sharing messages of hope and support for anyone affected by su***de. 🥰

With a stop-off at Rovers around 11.15am, the football club will show its support for raising awareness of mental health matters and su***de prevention. Walkers will walk around the Ewood Park pitch, before heading to Blackburn town centre to join the vigil event outside Blackburn Town Hall, starting at 12.30pm.

Get more details and register for the Su***de Prevention Day walk from Darwen to Blackburn ➡ https://bewellbwd.com/https-bewellbwd-com-category-news/world-su***de-prevention-day/

05/09/2025

It’s a sad fact that new parents, and those expecting a baby, are at a higher risk of su***de. 😢

At our World Su***de Prevention Day event next Wednesday, 10 September, two speakers will talk about the challenges about this time of life. 👶👶🏽

Sam Barrett from Dad Matters Blackburn & Darwen share a new dad’s perspective, and Lara McNally from our Family Hubs - BwD team will talk about the range of support on offer here in Blackburn with Darwen. 🫶

Please tag or tell anyone you know who may need this help. ⬇️

And feel free to come along to the event next Wednesday – everyone is welcome. It starts outside Blackburn Town Hall at 12.30pm, and a marketplace of organisations that offer su***de and mental health support will be open from 11.30am.

You can get all the details on The Shuttle news website:

https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

Find out about lots of support for new mums and dads on the Family Hubs website:

https://familyhubsbwd.org/pregnancy-and-birth/mental-health-support/local-support-mum-and-dad

04/09/2025

Happy September! 🙂

Did you know ❓
5 million adults in the UK aged 18-64 could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure and don't even know it...that's why from Monday 8th to Saturday 13th September, there are a range of venues you can visit to get your FREE blood pressure check for Know Your Numbers week!.🔴 Take a look at the timetable below👇

Quick, easy and no need to book, just turn up 🙂

03/09/2025

As World Su***de Prevention Day is coming up next Wednesday 10th September, we are holding workshops within our Borough to design and create banners to share hope and support to be used during our event.

The theme of this banner is creating communities that care and understand through art.

These banners will be used during the walk from Darwen to Blackburn and the vigil which is going to be held outside of the Town Hall in Blackburn.

We are holding an open session welcoming all of you to come down and show your support.

📆Friday 5th September
🕒1pm – 3pm
📍The Bureau - Centre for the Arts

If you would like to show your support, feel free to drop by as we hope to see you all there!

Get all the details on next week's World Su***de Prevention Day event at https://theshuttle.org.uk/sharing-hope-this-su***de-prevention-day/

27/08/2025

In Blackburn with Darwen we offer a range of mental health first aid training courses for both youths and adults.

We advise everyone partakes in at least one two-day session to help you be able to support yourself, family and friends 😊

If you haven’t already and would like to, you can attend any of these sessions below:

📌Youth Mental Health First Aid
📆15th September to 16th September

📌Adult Mental Health First Aid
📆18th September to 19th September

For more information or to book onto any of these sessions please visit the Blackburn with Darwen Adult learning website

https://bwdlearning.org/all-courses/?category=health-wellbeing

22/08/2025

With World Su***de Prevention Day coming up in three weeks, we’ve shared some details of how we’re marking it here in BwD.

As in previous years, our event will begin in Darwen, with a group walk leaving from Darwen Market Square at 10.30am – and anyone is welcome to join.

Walkers will make their way towards Blackburn along the A666 with banners made by local groups, bearing messages of hope and support for anyone affected by su***de.

With a stop-off at TAG Blackburn Rovers around 11.15am, the football club will show its support for raising awareness of mental health matters and su***de prevention.

Walkers will then head to Blackburn town centre to join the vigil outside Blackburn Town Hall, which starts at 12.30pm.

The event is an opportunity to commemorate loved ones who have lost their lives to su***de, as well as to learn about supporting people in mental health crisis and having suicidal thoughts.

The vigil will include a 40 second silence, highlighting the tragic fact that one person dies of su***de globally every 40 seconds.

As in previous years, the vigil is being supported by a host of local and regional organisations that can help people affected by su***de. Stalls with mental health information and advice will be open outside Blackburn Town Hall from 11.30am on Wednesday 10 September.

Please share this information, and feel free to come along.