A council is joining organisations across Essex as part of the ‘Creating hope through light’ event for World Suicide Prevention Day.

Maldon District Council offices will be lit in green to encourage people to talk about preventing suicide.

The building will be lit up until Sunday, September 10, in a joint initiative from Mid and South Essex and West Essex and Hertfordshire Integrated Care Boards and Thurrock and Brentwood Mind as part of their #LetsTalkAboutSuicide campaign.

It is aimed at reducing the stigma around talking about suicide and encourages people to take free online suicide prevention training, as well as highlighting the other mental health resources available in Essex and Hertfordshire.

The suicide prevention training focuses on three key elements - 'see, say, signpost'.

People are urged to 'see the problem, say the words and signpost to support' and it gives them the knowledge and the confidence to talk to someone who might be at risk of or thinking about suicide.

This is the third year of the campaign and the organisations getting involved is continuing to grow.

Maldon District Council chairman Kevin Lagan said: “Suicide is a preventable and avoidable death, and everyone should know how to talk and support someone who is having suicidal thoughts.

“I am pleased that the council is joining organisations across Essex to light up in green this week to highlight this very important issue.

“I would urge everyone to find out more about how to get involved by visiting letstalkaboutsuicide.co.uk and join us in ‘Creating hope through light’.”

Alfred Bandakpara-Taylor, deputy director of mental health at NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, said: “We want people from across mid and south Essex to challenge their friends, family, work colleagues, their communities and the organisations they work for to become a part of our ‘Creating hope through light’ event this September to help prevent and reduce suicides.

“Whether it is lighting a building green, talking to other people about preventing suicide or taking the training - you may help save someone’s life.”