A Wirral-based suicide prevention and support charity reveals that it helped a record number of people since the first lockdown began last March.
And it went on to prevent more than 1,500 deaths.
The Martin Gallier Project – which is the only suicide intervention, prevention and postvention service in the North West of England – was set up by founder and CEO Jesccia Gallier back in 2019 in memory of her 55-year-old father who took his own life in 2017.
The charity provides crisis support through immediate suicide interventions with no barriers to access or waiting lists, which thus reduces the need for clinical interventions and hospital admissions, and also aims to support family members bereaved by suicide – who are then at higher risk of suicide themselves – by providing an initial assessment to ensure the individual is not in suicidal crisis, as well as providing Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and a variety of skills-based workshops for individuals and groups.
But sadly, the charity says the number of those they have helped has more than tripled in past year.
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This has seen them unfortunately struggle to meet demand.
Speaking to ITV Granada, Jessica Gallier said: “We’ve really struggled to keep up with the numbers of people we’re seeing without creating a waiting list, and the last thing we ever want to do is have a waiting list for somebody that is considering suicide.”
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In order to aid in continuing to provide such vital help however, the charity has welcomed a National Lottery Grant of almost a quarter of a million pounds, which will enable it to expand its much-needed services and provide support for people like Penny – not her real name – who was planning on taking her own life in the weeks before Christmas.
Penny said: “I feel incredibly grateful, I can’t put into words how grateful I am because the way I feel about my life is completely different. The way I feel about my future is completely different – I have a future now and I’ve got things to look forward to,
“And I’ve never felt like that for as long as I can remember.”
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The grant means the centre has been able to open a new space for group work, activities and suicide intervention training.
“It’s not slowing down, it’s getting more, and those numbers are going up so quickly that there isn’t that time to stop and reflect on how many people we’re supporting,” Jessica added.
“If I even stop and do the calculations of 1,500 people since the end of February it just shows how important it is that we’re here, and how important it is that we’re here during this pandemic and how important it is that we’ve stayed open as well.”
You can find out more about The Martin Gallier Project via its website here, and you can also show your support on its social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can also text MGP to 70450 to donate £5.
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If you or anyone you know may be struggling right now, please know that you are never alone and there are many different places you can reach out to for support right here in Greater Manchester.
Suffering in silence never need be the way.
Manchester Mind – An organisation that has supported people in Manchester for over 30 years. Most services are now available over the phone, by email or video call. The number is 0161 769 5732 and the opening hours are Mon – Fri 10am – 2pm.
The GM Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust – The local NHS helpline is open 24/7 which you can call any time, day or night, if you feel your mental health is beginning to suffer: 0800 953 0285.
Andy’s Man Club – A group dedicated to starting conversations about mental health, assuring people that it’s ok to talk. You can contact them by email on: [email protected].
CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably supports people via phone and webchat. You can call 0800 58 58 58 or speak to a support worker online. Open 5pm to midnight.
Samaritans – The Manchester & Salford Samaritans offer emotional support by telephone and email. The phone lines and email support are available 24/7. Call 116 123 or visit the website.
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First look images released of new BBC drama series from Happy Valley creator filmed in Yorkshire
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC series telling the story of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band is set to air later this year.
Riot Women, the brand-new drama from the multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright – best known for being the creator of Happy Valley – is a six-part series set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
First look pictures of the new show have now been released.
Starring Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore as band members, alongside a talented supporting cast consisting of Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal, and Macy-Jacob Seelochan as the band’s riotous backing singers, the newly-released pictures show the women in action.
First look images have been released of a new BBC drama series filmed in Yorkshire / Credit: BBC
According to a synopsis on the BBC website, Riot Women dives headfirst into the world of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest.
But, in writing their first original song, they soon discover that they have a lot more to say than planned – and this is their way to say it.
As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who’ve buggered off, and disastrous dates, and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it’s going to make them question everything.
📸 Here's your first look at Riot Women – the new drama from Sally Wainwright coming to @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne in 2025
New pictures feature Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, Amelia Bullmore, and more
Creators and producers say the show is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who “refuse to be silenced by age or expectation”.
Speaking ahead of the show airing later this year, Riot Women creator, Sally Wainwright, commented: “I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Riot Women will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK later this year.
Featured Image – BBC
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A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2021 
