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Oct
Warning: this story contains mentions of suicide. If you are struggling with your mental health, please contact a professional. You can call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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A Harrogate not-for-profit has been included in The Royal Foundation’s new suicide prevention network.
The National Suicide Prevention Network was launched last week on World Mental Health (October 10), backed by £1 million of funding from The Royal Foundation.
A number of organisations across the UK have been chosen to partner with The Royal Foundation to work on suicide prevention, understanding the root causes of suicide and offering accessible support to those affected by it.
One of the organisations chosen to be an innovation partner is The Jordan Legacy CIC, set up by Harrogate man Steve Philip after his son, Jordan, took his life in December 2019.
The Jordan Legacy works towards becoming a 'zero suicide society' by raising awareness of the impact of suicide, educating people on how to identify if someone is struggling, and holding regular talks and events on suicide prevention.
Steve, who founded The Jordan Legacy in August 2020, told the Stray Ferret:
It's a huge honour to have been chosen by the Prince of Wales and The Royal Foundation as one of their innovation partners for the new National Suicide Prevention Network.
For a small non-profit from Harrogate to have been invited to join this network is an important acknowledgement of the impact we are making since losing Jordan to suicide almost 6 years ago.
The chosen innovation partners have received seed funding from The Royal Foundation, which will be used to deliver specific suicide prevention projects.
Steve founded The Jordan Legacy following his son's death.
Steve also co-founded Baton of Hope, which has also been chosen as an innovation partner by the Royal Foundation, alongside Mike McCarthy in 2022.
Mike, from Sheffield, lost his son Ross to suicide in February 2021.
The charity now works to provide education, resources and training on suicide prevention, and connect and support those impacted by suicide.
Steve also told the Stray Ferret:
I'm also delighted that the Baton of Hope UK has also been chosen as a network partner, an organisation I co-founded in 2022.
The Stray Ferret contacted Baton of Hope for comment, but we had not received a response at the time of publication.
Launching the network last week, The Prince of Wales said:
The incredible partners who form this network reach those at risk of, or affected by, suicide with their inspirational work.
I have had the privilege of meeting all of the founding partners to see firsthand their powerful community-based efforts to offer hope and support to those who need it most.
Their efforts reaffirm the urgent mission of the National Suicide Prevention Network: to build a bold, unified national response to the heartbreaking —and preventable— tragedy of suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Network will be chaired by professor Ann John, an expert in the prevention of suicide and self-harm, and consultant in public health medicine for Public Health Wales.
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