A suicide prevention project - believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country - has helped save the lives of Gypsies and Travellers in West Yorkshire.

Gypsy and Traveller communities are known to face some of the most severe health inequalities and poorest life outcomes among the UK populations, said the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP).

The life expectancy of those in these communities is 50 years, compared to the wider population where it is 79 years.

In just two years, the trailblazing work has led to one-to-one support, reduced stigma around mental health, and developed suicide awareness.

WY HCP's Suicide Prevention Programme will be funded for at least another year.

The partnership has been working with the Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE) - a membership led organisation on a mission to improve quality of life for Gypsies and Travellers.

The charity’s ‘Don’t Be Beat’ report, published in 2020, cited a study which found the Traveller suicide rate was six times higher than the general population.

Gypsies and Travellers have also been found to experience multiple bereavements by suicide – two to five family members on average.

Key to the project’s success has been Leeds GATE mental health worker Bernard Cunningham, who draws from his own experiences of mental health and Romany Gypsy background.

“It is scary that our community’s high suicide rate is so hidden,” he said. 

“Gypsies and Travellers don’t show up in the data, so having these statistics and showing these risk factors makes this issue much more visible.

“The situation is further compounded by stigma within the community and people not feeling able to talk about their mental health. People are experiencing multiple risk factors and are shouldering these themselves or within their family unit.

“That’s why this project is so badly needed. It’s shown what can be done and that people do want to engage when it’s done right and designed around them.

“Building trust therefore is crucial and takes time.

“Working one-on-one with people means showing up as a constant and consistent support, listening and being led by the individual that is opening up to you.

“We hope this process continues and action is taken, showing our communities they are heard and their wellbeing is valued.”