Cornwall’s 2025 Suicide Prevention Conference Described as a Success

Cornwall’s annual suicide prevention conference has been described as a success once again, bringing around 200 people together in Wadebridge to focus on reducing the number of suicides across the county.

A Day Dedicated to Changing the Narrative

The 2025 Towards Zero event took place on 13th November at The Pavilion Centre at the Royal Cornwall Showground. Organised by Public Health Cornwall, this year continued the theme of changing the narrative on suicide, building on last year’s call to start conversations to help break down stigma.

Attendees from health and care, voluntary, charitable and social enterprise sectors joined residents with lived experience to deliver presentations and workshops. Topics included the links between self harm and suicide, the use of artificial intelligence to better understand risk and protective factors, and work happening within the voluntary sector.

A Collective Effort

Cllr Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, said:
“Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy and has a devastating impact on families, friends, and entire communities. It’s vital that we confront this issue openly and work together, which is exactly what the Towards Zero event is designed to achieve.

“Free training is available for anyone living or working in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, helping people feel more confident in having these conversations and guiding others to the right support.”

Training can be accessed at Healthy Cornwall.

Dr Ruth Goldstein, Assistant Director of Public Health, added:
“There is a huge amount of work going on to change and improve the way we support people having suicidal thoughts, as well as those who have been bereaved by suicide, but there is always more to do.

“Collaboration is key so it was fantastic to see so many people coming together for this year’s event and once again putting suicide prevention at the top of everyone’s priorities. It is testament to the commitment to joint working in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.”

Where to Find Support

If you are worried about your own mental health or someone else’s, you can call 111 and select option 2 to speak to a mental health professional in Cornwall. This service is free, available to anyone of any age, and open at all times.

People in Mind, a collaboration between community sector organisations funded by Cornwall Council and the NHS, offers non urgent mental health support for people aged 16 and older in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. They can be contacted on 01872 266383 from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, or by emailing welcome@kernowgateway.org.uk.

Further information on support services, training and videos from the event is available through the council’s Towards Zero Suicide pages.