A WARRINGTON-based suicide-prevention charity has issued thanks to parents supporting their struggling children.

Papyrus is a charity that promotes awareness of suicide and allows young people to access support through difficult times.

In the build-up to Christmas, the charity is taking steps to ensure that no young people suffer alone.

Throughout 2022, the chief executive of the charity, Ged Flynn, says many lives have been saved by parents having difficult conversations with their children.

Ged said: "Starting a conversation about suicide is challenging and difficult to contemplate but thankfully families across the UK are taking that first step and having these life-saving discussions.

“Well done to parents for supporting their children, helping them to share their worries, navigate their difficulties and reassuring them they are not alone.”

During the festive season, Papyrus says that it has spoken to many young people who feel that they are a financial burden on their families at an already difficult time.

Ged added: "Children have even told us they feel like a financial burden on their parents and that the family would be better off without them, which is utterly heart-breaking."

Warrington Guardian: Ged says that Papyrus is hoping no young person suffers alone this ChristmasGed says that Papyrus is hoping no young person suffers alone this Christmas (Image: Papyrus)

Every week, the charity receives hundreds of calls, texts and emails to its confidential service, and is seeing an increase in the number of contacts about the cost-of-living crisis.

The charity is concerned that suicides among teenagers have been on the increase for more than a decade and wants to understand some of the reasons why. 

Papyrus has produced a Parents’ Guide to Self-Harm and Suicide which offers practical and professional advice to help break the silence and encourage parents to talk to their children.

One parent said: "I knew I had to keep my daughter safe. We talked about how she was feeling and she grew to know that she could talk to me whenever she felt bad.

"It’s too painful a road to travel alone when there are people trained to help in such situations.     

"Papyrus believes many young suicides are preventable and everybody has a role to play in making our communities suicide-safe."

Mr Flynn added: "It is wonderful that parents and family members are having these difficult conversations. They are seizing the opportunity to get young people the support and advice they need.

“As we approach the new year, no young person should have to suffer alone with thoughts or feelings of hopelessness and nobody should have to go through the heartbreak of losing a young person to suicide."