CHOOSE Life are inviting the people of Mid Argyll to ‘choose life to the full’ during Suicide Awareness Week in September. The best way of protecting ourselves and our communities from the risk of suicide is to have things in life that sustain us and to know where to go to when we need help, so come along to Oban Corran Hall on September 8 and join Choose Life in celebrating and promoting life to the full.
There will be lots of fun activities and sources of advice. Try out an Indian head massage, test out your rapping skills or contribute to a piece of group art. You can also think about your work/life balance and find out about organisations that will support you when you need help. You can also just take the time to relax and have a complimentary hot drink.
Another event is an art competition being run in partnership with the Dochas Fund. If you can create either a photograph or piece of visual art (not 2D or sculpture) that shows how you celebrate life then you could be in with a chance of winning a prize and having your work exhibited at the Dochas Gallery in Lochgilphead. Entries will be judged by local artists and the public will be invited to vote for the image they think most reflects ‘Celebrate Life’.
There is a serious message under the fun though. Anyone can be at risk of Suicide when under pressure with one in seventeen of us considering suicide each year. On average two people a day die by suicide in Scotland. Most of those lives could be saved if every member of our communities knew the signs of suicide and knew how help keep someone safe – sometimes it is just offering the time and space to talk.
For the past three years Choose Life has been offering training to all those interested in exploring more about their own attitudes to suicide and how to offer help to those at risk. To find out more, go to the website at www.chooselifeinargyllandbute.org.uk or call 01436 658824.
