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| Photo by Norman Adams, ACC photographer |
Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, and chaired by President, Tommy Campbell, representatives of ATUC and unions were joined by Aberdeen's Lord Provost, David Cameron, to lay wreaths in memory of those lost to suicide and to demand action to address the causes and symptoms of poor mental health.
Tommy said: "It's very important that we all work together to prevent suicide. As part of World Suicide Prevention Day we wish to create awareness that suicide is preventable and by bringing people together we can show our support for all those affected by suicide.
"Each of us has a positive and helpful role to play in creating a society where everyone can be supported and able to talk about their mental health."
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| Photo by Norman Adams, ACC photographer |
"Trade unions have an important role to play in ensure there is a properly funded mental health service to support adults and children who are struggling with their mental health and well being.
"Employers must ensure they have suicide prevention policies in place aimed at supporting workers who are suffering with poor mental health and are at risk of suicide.
Speakers spoke of the importance of speaking to workers struggling with their mental health to promote open, friendly and compassionate conversations and encourage people to reach out for help.
Others spoke of their personal experience of losing friends and work colleagues to suicide, which affects employees, families and friends and pointed out that whilst the reasons behind each suicide are complex, with the right support for everyone’s mental health and wellbeing lives can be saved."
In a powerful contribution, Unite's Gordon Walters emphasised the importance of starting conversations. "We never truly know what someone is carrying behind a smile," he said. "A person who seems fine may be struggling in ways we cannot see.
"We don't need perfect words, we simply need the courage to ask, the compassion to listen and the willingness to stay."
He called for us to change the narrative. To replace silence with conversation, judgment with understanding and hopelessness with hope.
"We must remember that many workers go to work every day carrying unseen struggles, and it's on all of us to look out for them and offer support.
"One conversation can change a life. Start the conversation," Gordon urged.
Tommy concluded the ceremony with a poem, aptly entitled, "Start the Conversation."
Start The Conversation
"I smile, I
laugh,
I say I'm fine,
but sometimes I'm not fine.
Some people hide their pain,
they smile every day, but inside they hurt.
We may not see it now,
we may not know.
So please ask:
Are you okay?
And then listen.
You don't need the right words, you don't need
to fix things.
Just stay, just listen, just care.
Tell them: You're not alone, you matter, I'm
here.
One kind word can help,
one talk can bring hope,
one person can make a difference.
So let's speak, let's listen, let's care.
Because silence can hide pain,
but a voice can bring hope.
So use your voice,
ask the question,
and be the person who stays.
Start the conversation,
Aberdeen TUC is calling upon both our Scottish and UK Governments to halt the funding cuts in mental health services and instead to start investing more financial and staffing resources which will help improve the lives of people suffering with their mental health and ultimately save lives by preventing suicide.
