Leeds Mind's Suicide Bereavement Services

Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service (LSBS) has been set up as a result of a partnership between Leeds Mind and Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service with support from Leeds Bereavement Forum. Leeds City Council has provided funding for the project which will initally run as a pilot for three years. Our official launch day will be on World Suicide Prevention day on the 10th of September 2015- although th

e service will start taking referals in mid August 2015. The Coalition Government's Suicide Prevention Strategy recognised that people bereaved by suicide are a target group for support, as being bereaved by suicide increases your risk of suffering long-term negative health outcomes and ending your own life. The term used internationally to encapsulate such support is 'postvention'. LSBS currently runs a peer support group and on our lauch will start delivering individual support to people bereaved by suicide, this will include amongst other things: advocacy, guidance with practical matters, signposting and most importatly a safe place to talk. Informal social drop-in groups will also start running monthly in differing locations around the city. LSBS is working to reduce the stigma associated with suicide and suicide bereavement and to raise awareness of the struggles of those left behind. We are staffed by workers with direct experience of suicide bereavement.