Salford will mark World Suicide Prevention Day with a Vigil & Procession of Remembrance on 10th September, honouring lives lost to suicide and raising awareness of mental health.
The event, beginning at START and ending at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, features 177 flags representing five years of losses, symbolising collective grief and community support.
Acclaimed poets Alice Godliman and John Clifford, alongside gospel singer Zena Taylor, will contribute through spoken word and music, creating a space for reflection and healing. Dennis Baldwin, Reach Out; START to End Suicide project manager “This gathering is about more than remembrance — it’s about standing together to break the silence and stigma around suicide. By uniting as a community, we honour those we’ve lost, support those who are grieving, and carry forward a shared hope that no one has to face their struggles alone.”
Mike Palmer, one of the 3 Dads Walking will be taking part. Mr. Palmer will share his journey of transforming personal tragedy into powerful change. Their tireless campaigning has led to a landmark achievement—the inclusion of suicide prevention within the national school curriculum. This means that future generations of students will have the tools, knowledge, and understanding that may one day save lives.
World Suicide Prevention Day plays a critical role in addressing the complex challenges of suicide through targeted awareness, community engagement, and coordinated global efforts. It highlights the necessity of recognizing suicide as a preventable public health issue and encourages collective action to support those affected.
The day elevates public understanding of suicide, emphasizing its preventability and the importance of mental health support. Confronting stigma encourages open conversations in families, workplaces, and communities, reducing isolation for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Media attention and educational campaigns on this day work to dispel myths and misinformation. Accurate information challenges harmful stereotypes about suicide, enabling earlier intervention and support. The focus on stigma reduction encourages seeking help without shame or fear.
Globally, more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year, with many more affected indirectly. World Suicide Prevention Day unites countries, health organisations, and communities in sharing strategies, research, and best practices aimed at suicide reduction.
Locally, events like Salford’s Vigil & Procession of Remembrance create tangible support networks and foster public engagement. These gatherings personalise the statistics, making the issue visible and urgent within specific communities, such as Salford, which has experienced significant losses over the past five years.
Community-driven movements provide essential emotional and practical support to individuals affected by suicide. They foster environments of shared grief, healing, and resilience, recognising the social and emotional consequences that suicide imposes.
By involving local groups, charities, and citizens, these initiatives bridge gaps between services and the community. They mobilise volunteers, increase awareness, and hold spaces for remembrance, thereby strengthening community cohesion and mental health advocacy.
The event begins at the START Wellbeing Centre, progresses along a key city route, and ends with a vigil at the Salford Museum & Art Gallery. The presence of 177 flags, each representing a life lost to suicide, marks the procession. Family members and friends carry many of these flags as a moving tribute down Broad Street.
The Vigil & Procession of Remembrance takes place on Wednesday, September 10. It starts promptly at 6:30 PM outside the START Wellbeing Centre (M6 5BZ). The group then moves on a solemn procession along Broad Street.
At 7:30 PM, the procession arrives at Salford Museum & Art Gallery (M5 4WU) for the candlelight vigil. The evening closes with refreshments at the museum café, supported by Salford City Council and the Greater Manchester NHS Integrated Care Board.
Each of the 177 flags represents a person who died by suicide in Salford over the past five years. Carrying these flags symbolizes remembrance and acknowledgment of lives lost.
Family members and friends bearing the flags highlight the personal impact behind the statistics. The flags serve as both a tribute and a visible reminder of the magnitude of suicide’s effect on the community.
The procession follows Broad Street, one of Salford’s main thoroughfares, creating a public display of collective grief and solidarity.
Participants walk quietly, carrying flags and offering support to one another. The route is intended to foster community awareness and encourage open conversations on mental health and suicide prevention.
Reach Out Out;START to End Suicide encourages everyone to participate and stand together in remembrance and support. By joining forces, we can raise awareness, promote mental well-being, and strive towards preventing further tragedies. To keep up to date and join ‘Reach Out; START to End Suicide’ visit: www.startinspiringminds.org.uk/reachout and follow us on social media @reachoutstes
Community members wishing to have a loved one’s name included in the Roll of Remembrance can email [email protected]. The event is open to all and encourages a strong show of solidarity and support.
START has been supporting mental health recovery in Salford since 1993 through creative arts and horticulture. The organisation urges everyone to join in raising awareness, promoting mental well-being, and preventing suicide. Reach Out Out;START to End Suicide is delighted to acknowledge the continued and invaluable support of the GM NHS Integrated Care Board and Salford City Council, whose commitment has played a key role in making this event such a success.
