Insights and learnings from the Zero Suicide Society Humber-to-Mersey Tour 

Key insights from the Zero Suicide Society Humber-to-Mersey Tour

After 10 months of planning and 6 months of organising, we successfully completed the #ZeroSuicideSociety Humber-to-Mersey #JoinTheDotsTour – a packed and impactful two-week journey from 11-23 June that took us through 19 major events in 15 towns and cities from Hull and Scunthorpe to Liverpool.

Big moments from the launch conference in Scunthorpe

The Tour started with a breakthrough Launch Conference in Scunthorpe. We covered many of the different contributory factors for suicide, and practical actions to prevent it, with the discussions made even more powerful by the personal stories shared by our speakers – two-thirds of whom had lived experience of suicide. One of the big moments was announcing that the British Standards Institute (BSI) Board had approved the development of a new Standard for Suicide Prevention to be a British Standard and ultimately an ISO Standard – a huge step forward! 

This short video (7 mins) from Garry Lynch of Bear Media captures the essence and key moments from the day.  

Highlights from the tour and grand finale

Key stops along the Tour included a panel discussion in York on “Inclusion and Missing Pieces in the (Suicide Prevention) Puzzle”; a special Fathers’ Day climb up the Scammonden Steps in West Yorkshire which was covered by ITV Calendar; and huge gatherings in Bury and Wigan. The grand finale in Merseyside was exceptional, featuring the ‘Hope Gathering in Hope Street’ and a ‘Voices of Hope Concert with Reflections’ at the Liverpool Arts Bar. 

It was a massive collaborative effort, with our ‘Chief Positive Energy Sources’ in each location helping to ‘join the dots’ by connecting people, organisations, places, and issues – all the pieces in the puzzle that will drive suicide numbers on a downward trend #TowardsZeroSuicide.  

Check out our short highlights film (17 mins) made by Garry of Bear Media. 

Rolling needs assessment and report

Throughout the Tour, we conducted a rolling needs assessment to understand the support required by those working in suicide prevention. Two main needs emerged: 

– The Business Case: Robust data, evidence and arguments for investing in suicide prevention. 

– Expanded training: An evidence-based case for significant expansion of suicide prevention training to equip more people with the tools to help. 

Our post-Tour report, Take the Training, Have a Conversation…about Suicide, addresses these needs and includes the latest data from the Towards Zero Suicide CIC and MEL Research tracking survey. This tracking survey, which I oversee, is conducted pro bono by MEL Research every Spring and Autumn and captures key data on suicide, suicide prevention, and mental health, from a nationally representative sample of 1,500+ UK adults aged 16+.  

Collaborative partnerships and a ground-up approach

I designed, organised, and delivered the Tour as Chief Facilitator of the Zero Suicide Society Transformation Programme, through Towards Zero Suicide CIC. Supported by The Jordan Legacy, this initiative brought together a wide range of people, organisations, networks, and initiatives across the M62 Corridor. 

This Tour is a key part of the Transformation Programme’s rollout, which is set for national coverage and has already attracted international interest. The Humber-to-Mersey focus effectively demonstrated the Zero Suicide Society’s philosophy, vision, and approach. 

The Tour’s design evolved from the #ZeroSuicide Transformation Model, which I developed through previous engagement with the global Zero Suicide community. Further refinements came through action research with Steve Phillip of The Jordan Legacy, culminating in our co-authored report, Moving Towards a Zero Suicide Society. 

Our report, published alongside other key documents, presents an ambitious alternative to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028. This included a response from The Jordan Legacy, advocating for ambitious policy measures and identifying gaps. I also authored a detailed critique of the National Strategy for England, focusing on change dynamics, barriers to progress, and ways to get suicide numbers on a downward trend, towards zero.  

Reflections and learnings

Our experience has taught us several valuable lessons that could benefit other NSPA members planning something similar:  

– Plan ahead and be fully committed: Allow yourself plenty of time – at least six months – giving the project your full attention, and organise accommodation and logistics well in advance. 

– Build a strong, motivated team: Surround yourself with people who have the right skills and energy. Work with those eager to contribute, and don’t waste time trying to convince those who aren’t interested. 

– Keep it coherent and strategic: Choose a route that makes sense, involve local champions, and ensure at least one major event in each location to generate interest. Secure your venues early and keep communication clear and focused. 

– Unite around the Zero Suicide Society Model: Use this model to help bond everyone, keep everyone on track, connect people and organisations, and concentrate on the key messages and actions you want to drive. 

– Vision before budget: Don’t let budget constraints limit your vision from the outset—aim for transformational impact, not just transactional. 

– Involve and inspire: Bring in VIPs and media where appropriate, but always keep the focus on the cause. Document the journey and maintain connections both online and in person. 

– Start and finish strong: Begin with momentum, end with reflection and celebration, and don’t disappear when it’s over. Follow up, tie up loose ends, and then take a well-earned break. 

– Self-care: Look after yourself; don’t burn yourself out or cram every minute of every day.  

It’s important to highlight that this was a ground-up Tour founded on Lived Experience then involving others, not a top-down Tour with some Lived Experience Involvement.  

About the author

As well as his own lived experience of suicide, Paul has a professional background in transformational change and involving people in decisions that affect their lives, and he drew from both his personal and professional experience for this Tour. 

Since the Humber-to-Mersey Tour, Paul has been contacted by people from 18 different parts of the UK asking if they can have “a Tour in our area.” While the extensive and intensive Humber-to-Mersey Tour is unlikely to be repeated in the same form, mini-Tours are in the works.  

Paul is also advising several ‘Chief Positive Energy Sources’ on how they can organise tailored Tours and events in their local areas. 

For any queries or more information, contact Paul on: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvittles/ 
X: @PaulVittles