TODAY an Isle of Wight charity is supporting World Suicide Prevention Day.

Suicide Prevention and Intervention IOW (SPIIOW) are using the day to not only to highlight the services they offer but to get the very important message out there that suicide is preventable by reaching out and talking.

Head over to SPIIOW’s social media, where the team will be sharing thoughts and reflections on the rich and complicated idea of ‘hope’ in suicide prevention, including what brings people hope, struggles with hope and hopelessness, and projects that can build hope.

They will be sharing case studies to inspire people too.

Jodie Blaize, SPIIOW secretary, said: "Unfortunately suicide is a subject and topic that will touch the lives of many people in their lifetime, either directly or indirectly.

"On this important day we are sending out a beacon of help to the Island community both in the business sector and to community groups to ask if you would be kind enough to join us and help us raise much needed funds, that go back into everything we do in our community.

"Since Covid we have lost close to £20,000 from training workshops, fundraising and events. If you can donate any amount that would be amazing, at https://spiiow.org/donate/

Laura Bail, team leader, said: "SPIIOW have a team of frontline responders, who are trained and skilled to a high standard who will respond to a person who is at risk of suicide in our community, in the public domain.

"If you are worried about someone who you think could be at risk, reach out and call our 24 hour number (01983) 667247."

An open day is being held tomorrow (Saturday) from 11.30am to 1.30pm at the Pavilion, Watery Lane, Newchurch, PO36 0LX, opposite Amazon World, to recruit more team members.

Someone at risk from suicide?

If you think anyone is at risk from ending their life from suicide you can make contact with the team 24 hours a day in the following ways:

SPI Crisis Number (Suicide Intervention Only) (01983) 667 247 This number is only to be used if you or someone you know is at risk of ending their life by suicide.

If you or someone you know has already acted on the thoughts of suicide please call 999 and ask for the ambulance, giving them as much information as you can

Anyone interested in learning or joining the on-call from line team can contact SPIIOW at hello@spiiow.org