At Developing Healthy Communities, we provide a strong, collaborative voice for those who live with the reality of suicide every day.

Bringing about change

Through Families Voices, we represent those bereaved by suicide to government and decision makers. With our knowledge and experience, we focus on critical areas that will bring about the greatest improvement and change in services and hope for those bereaved by suicide.

We work as a cohesive body and rely on the active commitment of each and every member to seek creative and innovate ways to change and challenge accepted norms and ways of doing things.

"Together we can make a change."

Our achievements

• Appropriate mandatory training on suicide awareness for all frontline staff, the police and teachers, now monitored and evaluated regionally.
• The development of a regionally available booklet of support for families bereaved by suicide.
• The development of a cross-border leaflet to help police working on border towns give the right support and guidance to families and friends following a suicide.
• Ensuring the new Protect Life 2 strategy retained a focus upon reducing the suicide rates in Northern Ireland, defined by a measurable target.
• Information sharing at community events across the region, as well as information giving at 6 regional conferences and the All-Party Working Group on Suicide.
• We consult with the Chief Medical Officer and Health Minister on key action points.
• We network with over 24 bereaved by suicide support groups across the country and a further 5 bereavement services globally.
• We consult over 112 family members directly in our work.

Join us

Sign up for the Families Voices Forum online

Or download a registration form