Suicide Prevention Charity's Petition To Government Near 150,000 Amid Project 84 Backing

Nearly 150,000 people have backed a campaign urging greater government action on preventing male suicide and supporting bereavement

A petition from suicide prevention charity CALM is urging for greater government action on the issue and has gained more than 147,000 signatures - just 3,000 shy of its initial target.

Frightening statistics show that currently around 84 men a week in the UK take their own lives.

CALM is petitioning Prime Minister Theresa May and health minister Jeremy Hunt for Westminster to “take official responsibility”.

Petition creator Matthew Smith is leading calls for suicide prevention and bereavement to fall under the work of a government minister. Mr Smith revealed the struggle his own family faced after losing his brother Dan to suicide 13 years ago.

Launching #project84 ... on our ITV buildings .. models representing the 84 men who will take their own lives this week #mentalhealth #talk

A post shared by Phillip Schofield (@schofe) on Mar 26, 2018 at 3:46am PDT

He said: My brother Dan was my best pal and my idol. He was taken by something silent, something none of his friends or family saw coming. Thirteen years ago, we lost Dan to suicide.

“After he died, I set out a goal of preventing one brother, one father, one family, one friend having to go through what my family, his friends and I went through.

Petitions reaching 100,000 signatures are considered for debate in the House of Commons.

It comes as CALM’s Project84 initiative was unveiled on Monday and has been backed by ITV and a host of star names eager to see progress, including Phillip Schofield as part of This Morning's coverage and CALM Patron, Professor Green.

The campaign has also prompted 84 statues to appear on top of ITV's London Southbank studios to raise awareness of the campaign.

Some might say if you aren’t living life on the edge you’re taking up too much space, but I can tell you, from my own experience that being on the edge and peering over is one of the worst places I’ve been. I’ve spent a long time there. Well done @calmzone 💖 I’m proud to be patron of such an important charity.

A post shared by Stephen Manderson (@professorgreen) on Mar 27, 2018 at 8:03am PDT

To view the petition, or for more information, click here.

Suicidal thoughts or coming to terms with a loved one taking their life can be very traumatic and a deeply distressing time. For more information, or to find a professional counsellor near to you, visit Counselling Directory.