Salford-based charity relaunches support group to help suicide survivors heal through art

A Salford-based mental health charity has relaunched a support group that aims to help those affected by suicide “heal” through art.

Start is a Salford-based mental health charity which gives people the opportunity to grow confidence and self-esteem through art and creativity.

This month, Start’s multi-award winning ‘Reach Out; Start to End Suicide‘ campaign is relaunching its ‘Surviving Suicide: attempt survivors peer support art group’.

Fantastic news our Surviving Suicide Peer to Peer Support Art Group is back! thank you to the amazing @TNLComFund for the support! Starting Fridays 17th February 2023 @startinspminds 10.30am-12.30pm
email dennisb@startinspiringminds.org.uk for more info and to register pic.twitter.com/M4XZCLZTUI

— Reach Out ; Start to End Suicide (@reachoutstes) February 1, 2023

The sessions are mainly aimed towards those recovering from suicide attempts, experiencing or have experienced suicidal thoughts and/or ideation.

Week-by-week members will get the chance to create their own art work and build on basic creative skills through their own designs, plans and conceptualisation with support from their peers and mental health support workers.

All of the art supplies are provided by Start and each session will be led by a professional artist who is experienced in mental health intervention delivery.

Participants will use various mediums and art forms to communicate and allow healing from their experiences of suicide through an “ongoing organic consultive” process and therapeutic environment.

The sessions will encourage participants to engage in peer to peer support for connection…that will actively seek the involvement of all participants.

Start has run the “incredibly successful” group for a number of years with participants reporting a “111% increase in their mental health and wellbeing” in 2018.

Start said members communicate their lived experiences of suicide and the impact that it has had on their life whilst garnering support from each other.

Insights help both those who have felt suicidal and those coping with the loss of a loved one to suicide.

The sessions will take place every week at 10.30am to 12.30pm from Friday February 17, at Brunswick House, 62 Broad Street, Salford, M6 5BZ.

• For more information on the sessions and/or information on how to register contact: dennisb@startinspiringminds.org.uk.