A pioneering suicide prevention centre has marked its first birthday by celebrating a 100% survival rate.
The Martin Gallier Project in New Ferry was launched 12 months ago by Jessica Gallier in memory of her father, who died by suicide in 2017.
Jessica set out to create a non-judgemental environment where people could access vital help and support through difficult times.
After receiving a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery, the centre has since provided a vital helpline to vulnerable members of the community through delivering suicide prevention first aid training to members of the public.
A workforce of dedicated staff and volunteers have played a key role in supporting Wirral residents through periods of ill mental health and strife.
Jessica told the Globe: “Achieving a zero-suicide rate was beyond our wildest dreams.
“It would not have been possible without the work of our team of volunteers, and those who trusted in us during their darkest moments.”
In just one year, The Martin Gallier Project has left no stone unturned to ensure nobody falls through the cracks.
From attaching hopeful messages across Wirral’s busiest bridges, to training 60 local businesses in suicide first aid, more than 400 people at risk of suicide have received support.
This means, on average, one person has been saved every day since they opened their doors.
One attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, says the support delivered by The Martin Gallier Project helps him ‘live with the guilt’ of surviving trauma.
He said: “The help and support the team have given me in coping with my personal battles with PTSD have enabled me to find myself again.
“My life has moved from a dark place where I felt I had nowhere else to turn to, to a bright place filled with love and friendship. I enjoy dropping in when I am not working and having a cup of tea in a really lovely, welcoming atmosphere, where everyone feels welcome – no matter their background or experiences.”
The question of suicide prevention has been an uphill struggle for many mental health organisations across the Wirral.
In 2018, four out of ten individuals who lost their lives to suicide in Merseyside and Cheshire had a previous attempt on their record.
What’s more, waiting times to access life-saving mental health support has increased dramatically.
On average, a person on the Wirral waits up to three months before receiving a referral for talking therapies, counselling and emergency mental health support. Residents wait an average of two years for their first appointment.
Waiting for a prolonged period for support can cause immense trauma and distress.
Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South, has been working alongside Jess over the years to bring the centre into reality.
She said: “I am most proud that the Martin Gallier team have, over the past year, worked with 400 people who are still alive.
“Organisations like Martin Gallier are essential because they are plugging the gap left by chronic underfunding of mental health services. If others can replicate the work of Jess and her hardworking team of volunteers, they will be an asset to their community.
“New Ferry was devastated by an explosion in March 2017 and the impact that that has had on residents’ health and the inability of a struggling NHS to provide support to all affected has meant that programs such as the Martin Gallier Project have been an invaluable asset to just help people day-to-day on the town’s high street.”
The centre is open to all members of the public – yet for Jessica, the project’s future success hinges on the kindness and compassion of the whole community.
Jessica said: “Basic human kindness, when paired with education, are linchpins when it comes to building suicide-safer communities. We spend a large amount of time working to break down the stigma surrounding suicide, in the hope that it normalises conversations with families, within workplaces, schools and friendship circles.”
“There’s absolutely no shame in seeking support.”
Jessica is urging people struggling with suicidal thoughts to reach out and seek their support.
She said: “There’s absolutely no shame in seeking support. Come through our doors, pick up the phone. Talk to us – it could save your life.
“The world will not be a better place without you.”
For more information about The Martin Gallier Project, please visit www.gallierhouse.co.uk/
Anyone can contact Samaritans for FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. Other services available include the Papyrus Hopeline on 0800 068 4141, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide on 0300 111 5065, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58, Mind on 0151 512 2200, NHS 111 or Wirral Pathfinders on 0151 334 2111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here