For today’s World Suicide Prevention Day we are pleased to officially announce the launch of Stepladder, a new community development initiative working with communities across Somerset to help them in supporting men with their wellbeing.
The project is delivered by Second Step and funded by Somerset County Council and aims to reduce the number of men who take their own life.
The project will be helping communities, groups and individuals build their capacity and skillset to support the men that they have contact with, to improve men’s wellbeing and enable men to build supportive networks. Working as part of Open Mental Health we aim to link with the huge range of groups, clubs and projects that offer places for men to go across Somerset. Through collaboration we aim to improve men’s journeys through mental health support and to reduce the stigma that men feel about asking for support. Stepladder does not offer a direct support service.
You can find out more at www.second-step.co.uk/stepladder. We also have released a series of videos on Twitter:
- Why are men more at risk of suicide? Professor David Gunnel, leading expert in suicide prevention and mental health talks to Second Step Communications Manager Jane Edmonds.
- Link between physical & mental health, Dr Daniel Berrio Galan
- Chris, barber and previous mental health nurse talks to Haleem about the importance of conversations
- Official launch video for Stepladder from Nick Dean, Community Development Worker
Stepladder Innovation Fund
September also sees the launch of the Stepladder Innovation Fund. A pot of grant money made available improve the mental wellbeing of men across Somerset as a part of the Open Mental Health Alliance. You can apply for grants of between £300-1,000 for:
- Proposals that support Men aged 18+ with improving their wellbeing and mental health
- New projects or for equipment/resources that support new projects.
- Somerset based proposals
- Voluntary, community and social enterprise groups
- Local groups or individuals who are not constituted but have appropriate governance in place
- Proposals that improve the wellbeing of at least five men.
Find out more including eligibility and an application form here.