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Press Release

Sandtimer

9 January 2023

Art installation delivers powerful suicide message in Fareham

Fareham Borough Council is supporting Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to raise awareness of youth suicide, through the installation of an impactful public art feature at Fareham Leisure Centre.

The 6-foot-tall installation takes the form of a sand timer, which revolves every 40 seconds, reflecting global statistics that every 40 seconds someone ends their life by suicide.

Within the sand timer there are 161 balls. These represent the 161 children and adolescents under the age of 19 years old who ended their life by suicide in 2020 in England. The 113 orange-coloured balls represent the number of boys who ended their own lives, and the 48 purple-coloured balls represent the number of girls who ended their lives by suicide.

The installation will be located in the foyer of Fareham Leisure Centre from 9 January to 6 February, along with signposting to help available for those who are in a mental health crisis.

Councillor Joanne Burton, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection at Fareham Borough Council, said: “We are honoured to host this public art installation at Fareham Leisure Centre and raise awareness of such an important topic. I very much hope that this impactful piece will encourage people to start a conversation and get the help they need."

Helen Dove, Innovation and Participation Lead at Hampshire CAMHS, commented: "Public art is a very powerful way of getting important messages out. No message can be more important than raising awareness about suicide. We hope that this installation will also not only raise awareness, but signpost anyone in crisis and/or coping with the aftermath of suicide to the support they need."

Ryan Grant, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, added: “We know that exercise can significantly improve mental health and wellbeing. In fact, participating in daily physical activity can reduce the risk of depression and general feelings of distress for adults by 20%-30%*. That is why Fareham Leisure Centre is the perfect location for this incredibly impactful artwork, and we feel very privileged to have it.”

For more information about Hampshire CAMHS and the services they provide for children and young people, go to www.hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk.

You can also find information and mental health support at www.fareham.gov.uk/leisure/mentalhealth.aspx

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

* https://www.therapyforyou.co.uk/post/exercise-and-mental-health>

This artwork installation has been organised by Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), which is provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This project has been jointly funded by Sussex Partnership's official charity, Heads On, and Ringwood Round Table.