Exclusive:
Startling new figures show suicide is the biggest killer of 18-to-24-year-olds, and a push for greater awareness for mental health is being backed by This Morning presenter Josie Gibson
Television presenter Josie Gibson is backing a new suicide prevention campaign after four of her friends took their own lives during lockdown.
She told the Mirror: “It’s a cause very close to my heart. We’re going to talk about something that nobody wants to talk about. Everybody is scared to say the word suicide but suicide is huge. It’s the biggest killer of 15 to 24-year-olds at the moment.”
The star teamed up with charity CALM and the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation to mark World Suicide Prevention Day this week as it was revealed that almost 7,000 young people took their own lives in the past decade.
Speaking previously when hosting ITV’s This Morning show, Josie said: “I personally know four men who took their own lives, and the support was just not there. CALM has the tools to help people but it’s just about getting the word out there.”
Research from CALM reveals that 39% of people aged between 18 to 34 have experienced a mental health crisis, or suicidal thoughts over the past five years.
The face of Iceland, Josie, 39, has starred in a video alongside the firm’s Richard Walker and Tarsem Dhaliwal, with Simon Gunning and Wendy Robinson of CALM.
The organisations also created an installation of 6,929 birthday balloons in Westfield shopping centre, West London, marking the missed birthdays of youngsters who took their own lives.
Tarsem, trustee of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, said: “Josie has been an incredible asset, helping to start lifesaving conversations.”
- For help, please call CALM on 0800 585858.
