Service of reflection for people affected by suicide
Event cancelled
As a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Truro Cathedral's service of reflection on Sunday 11 September has been cancelled.
Original press release
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, Truro Cathedral will again hold the annual service of reflection for people who have been affected by suicide.
Since it was first delivered in 2016, the service has been held on the closest Sunday to World Suicide Prevention Day which takes place on the 10 September each year.
Speaking ahead of this year's service on Sunday 11 September, Anne Embury, who leads the Suicide Liaison Service said:
“As always, we are very grateful to the Cathedral for holding this special service. It has come to mean a lot to those who attend each year, as it’s both moving and uplifting in equal measure. It gives people a calm, supportive and safe space to come together and reflect.”
The event is organised by the Suicide Liaison Service, which is run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and delivered in collaboration with the Cathedral and members of the county’s multi-agency suicide prevention group.
Anne added: “This year, for World Suicide Prevention Day, we have 2 events taking place. My colleagues in the Trust’s Suicide Prevention Team are holding a free swim on the Saturday at the Jubilee Pool in Penzance to raise awareness, reduce stigma and help bring a focus on how we try to reduce the number of suicides in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Then on the Sunday, we are inviting people to the Cathedral for our service of reflection, offering those attending the opportunity for both healing and support. It is open to people of all faiths or none. Both events are very much about creating hope through action.”
Truro Cathedral is the only cathedral in England to hold an annual service for suicide loss.
The Rev’d Canon, Alan Bashforth, at Truro Cathedral, said:
“People experience bereavement in many different ways, but undoubtedly one of the more difficult of these to deal with is the loss of a loved one through suicide. It is often the case that reasons remain out of reach - and that questions that arise in these circumstances struggle to find answers. The time given over to this service allows a space for those who have had this experience to sit in common solidarity with each other and seek in the sacred space of the cathedral to find some hope in the face of hopelessness and some light, away from the darkness, brought by such a loss.”
The service starts 2pm at Truro Cathedral. There will be refreshments provided by the Samaritans. People are invited to turn up on the day. Music will be provided by the Mousehole Male Voice Choir.