This week Every Life Matters, a suicide prevention charity, will be launching community action groups across Cumbria.

There will be two events held this month in Carlisle and Copeland to bring people together and make a difference to suicide rates in Cumbria.

Chris Wood, Charity Manager at Every Life Matters, a Cumbrian Suicide Prevention and Suicide Bereavement Support charity, said: "Suicide is a complex issue, and there is no easy fix. To reduce suicides we need to break down the stigma around mental health and make reaching out for support at a time of crisis a normal thing to do – most people dying by suicide do not reach out for help."

A number of local guest speakers will also talk at the events about action they have taken against suicide. Including Ben Snowdon of the Cumberland Football Association. He said: "We are pleased to be supporting Every Life Matters Cumbria at their upcoming Safer Copeland event."

The events are free to attend and members of the public are encouraged to come and join in. The Carlisle event will take place on Tuesday 7th December and the Copeland event on Thursday 9th December. The Whitehaven event will be organised by Ian Alcock of the West Cumbria branch.