A MENTAL health charity is aiming to raise awareness of the importance of suicide prevention as part of an international day of action.

Vale of Clwyd Mind has invited any members of the public who suffer from mental health difficulties, their families and friends to attend its Cream Tea and Chat on October 10. It will mark World Mental Health Day, staged annually by the Mental Health Foundation to tackle social stigma surrounding mental illnesses.

This year the theme for the event is suicide prevention in response to a year-on-year increase in the number of people taking their own lives.

Jenny Bolton, manager of Vale of Clwyd Mind, which provides a range of support and outreach services, said the tea afternoon aims “to encourage people to be open about their mental health problems” and “highlight the fantastic work that everyone does in the charity, wider community and workplaces” in Denbighshire.

In 2018, there were 6,500 suicides in the UK, a rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 population. Men aged 45-49 were at the highest risk of suicide while rates among the under 25s have also increased in recent years.

Mrs Bolton said: “We work in prevention all the time and there have been a lot of suicides in Denbighshire recently, so World Mental Health Day is a huge campaign to change our attitudes towards mental health.

“Anyone is welcome to come and have a cup of tea, cake and a chat.”

The event takes place at Eirianfa Community Centre in Denbigh from 1pm-3pm.

For more information, or to find out how you can get support, contact Vale of Clwyd Mind by calling 01745 336787.