The municipalities in western Blekinge will now, in collaboration with the relatives' association SPES, arrange conversation meetings for people who have a close relative who has taken their own life.
- The idea is that survivors meet other survivors and that you exchange thoughts, experiences and knowledge in it.
That you are strengthened together, says Bert Bengtsson, coordinator for mental health in Karlshamn municipality.
The idea is that it will be set up as a conversation meeting once a week, that it will be a self-help group for survivors after the suicide of relatives.
The survivor group will be based in Karlshamn, but is a collaboration with both Olofström and Sölvesborg municipalities.
The relatives 'association SPES (Suicide Prevention and Survivors' Support) is involved in starting up the meetings, which previously only existed in the eastern part of the county.
- This is also very much about breaking the stigma and increasing knowledge about these issues, says Bert Bengtsson.
30 people took their lives
During the last ten-year period, 263 people have committed suicide in Blekinge County.
Every year, there are 25-30 people who take their lives in the county, according to statistics from the National Center for Suicide Research and Prevention.
Last year there were 30 people.
- There are many relatives who are affected when a person takes his life.
Then we want to be able to offer support from others with experience of this, says Bert Bengtsson.
The meetings start in Karlshamn on 6 October.