Self-harm and suicide prevention, support and information

Local suicide support services

Urgent mental health support

Ring 999 / 111 for emergency assistance

Where to get urgent help for mental health. Phone: 111 (select option: mental health)

A GP can advise you about helpful treatments and also help you access mental health services. You may be able to refer yourself to some services.

Mental Health Crisis Cafes in Cheshire East

We have Mental Health Crisis Cafes in Crewe and Macclesfield which offer support, information and signposting:

• Crewecial Cafe, 3 Partridge Close, Flat 2, Dunwoody Way, Crewe, CW1 3TQ
• The Weston Hub - Crisis Cafe, The Weston Centre, Earlsway, Macclesfield, SK11 8RL

Support following suicide or an attempt

• Amparo offer free and confidential, 1-1 or group support, for as long as you need it.
  • Phone: 0330 088 9255

• Papyrus provide a suicide prevention helpline, HOPELINE247, to support young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or those concerned for them. It’s also here for professionals who have experience with suicide and would like to talk it through with a trained professional.

  • Phone: 0800 068 4141
  • Text: 88247
  • Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

• Sobs (Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide) provides support to help the survivors of a bereavement by suicide to support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow.
• 2 Wish provides support for those who are affected by a sudden death of a young person.
• Samaritans supports schools, college communities and other youth settings.
• Step by Step Samaritans is a service that provides practical support to help schools prepare for and recover from a suspected or attempted suicide. It's also a service that provides practical support to help schools prepare for and recover from a  suspected or attempted suicide.

Support

• Samaritans are available to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • Phone: 116 123
  • Email: jo@samaritans.org

• Mentell - Free Support Circles for Men provides a confidential face to face or online support groups for men.

• The Silver Line Helpline is a free confidential service for older people, providing 24/7 support, friendship and advice.
  • Phone: 0800 470 8090

• Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline offers a safe space to talk between 10am to 10pm everyday.
  • Phone: 0300 330 0630
• Young Minds offers advice and support for young people. It also provides support for parents, including a parents helpline and online chat service. 

Safety planning resources

Safety planning is a proactive approach that helps individuals identify actions and support systems to prevent or manage a crisis. It forms part of wider care and contingency planning. There are a range of different plans:

• Stay Alive Suicide Prevention app
• Suicide safety plan (Papyrus)
• Help someone create a 'safety plan' (Samaritans)
• Safety Planning (Every Life Matters)
• Keep safe cope well plan 

Cheshire East Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Partnership Board

The Cheshire East Self Harm and Suicide Prevention Partnership Board is a multi-agency group that includes expert professionals and lived experienced members. The objectives of the board include:

• monitoring the progress of the Cheshire East self harm suicide action prevention plan 2025-2027 (PDF, 1MB)
• aligning with the Cheshire and Merseyside suicide prevention strategy 2025-2027 (PDF, 670KB)

Cheshire East Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

An overview of the Cheshire East Suicide Prevention Conference 2025 (PDF 4.5MB)

120 delegates attended and shared feedback on World Suicide Prevention Day.

• Feedback slides World Suicide Prevention Day conference (PDF, 420KB)

Free Suicide Prevention Training

The Zero Suicide Alliance offer free awareness training.

Suicide Awareness Training modules, that are short, free and available online, view a list of free suicide Prevention Training (PDF, 432KB)

The training is aimed at anyone aged 16 and over who wants to know what to do if they’re ever in a situation where someone they know or see may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Training for professionals

Cheshire East professionals working in education, social or public sectors can register for training on Eventbrite.

Domestic abuse and suicidality toolkit

There is a growing awareness of the link between suicide and domestic abuse. In response to this the Cheshire East Domestic and Sexual Abuse Partnership, the Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Partnership Board, and expert colleagues, have created a toolkit to support practitioners in effective intervention and providing crucial support.

• Domestic abuse and suicidality toolkit (PDF, 24MB) 

Resources booklets

These booklets have been developed to accompany the suicide prevention training and for anyone that needs a summary of conversation prompts, how to manage risk and signposting to services.

• Responding to suicide risk (PDF, 240KB)
• Responding to self harm and suicide risk for children and young people (PDF, 470KB)

Partner websites

• No more Suicide offers support, resources, and commissioned services available in Cheshire and Merseyside.
• NHS suicide support pages offer advice, support and related facts.

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