Yesterday, the Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture was lit yellow and orange to raise awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day.

It’s a small but symbolic gesture aimed at remembering loved ones we’ve lost but also to encourage anyone out there who is struggling to speak to someone.

This year’s awareness day has the theme ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’ with the call to action, ‘Start the Conversation’.

This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides.

Recent statistics from National Records Scotland showed there were 10 deaths by suicide in Inverclyde in 2023, the same as in 2022.

Each one represents the loss of a mother or father, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, friend or neighbour and each one is heartbreaking for those directly affected and for the wider community, especially in such a small and close-knit area like Inverclyde.

Events like World Suicide Prevention Day are important to help reduce the stigma associated with suicide but also to encourage people who are going through a difficult time for whatever reason to seek help no matter how significant or trivial they feel their problems are.

Nothing is insurmountable, and help is available here in Inverclyde, from various local and national organisations.

Locally, there is the multi-agency Inverclyde Suicide Prevention Group which brings together partner organisations working to support individuals, and their loved ones impacted by suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don't hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS 24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.

For children and young people under the age of 35, contact PAPYRUS Hopeline on 0800 068 4141.

The council/HSCP also supports many local organisations such as Man On! Inverclyde and Morton in the Community, who run a weekly Team Talk men’s mental health group on a Monday from 6-8pm at Cappielow.

Even a simple chat with family, friends, team-mate, work colleague or whoever you feel comfortable speaking with can help lift a weight off the shoulders and lead to further help and support if required.

We have a proud reputation here in Inverclyde of being a caring and compassionate place and population, but we can always do more to help those who are struggling and keep an eye out for each other.

Regenerating Inverclyde

Since my last column, we’ve had significant updates on the progress being made on some major regeneration projects across Inverclyde, namely Greenock Town Centre Levelling Up, Inverkip City Deal, and Clune Park.

Taking Levelling Up, as well as the Towns Fund, and the three City Deal projects (Greenock Ocean Terminal, Inchgreen Marine Park, and Inverkip A78 improvements) alone, that’s the best part of £80 million the Council has secured in external funding largely from the UK and Scottish governments to help make meaningful improvements to the area.

That’s a significant amount of money, particularly for a small area like Inverclyde.

I’m pleased that we’re now seeing Levelling Up and Clune Park physical works on the horizon – a huge amount of work has been on the go behind the scenes by council officers and various partners to get to this stage – and with a new full business case for Inverkip now due to go before the City Deal Cabinet seeking approval.

While we don’t have our challenges to seek, and while you can’t please everyone, these are exciting times for Inverclyde and there is so much good work on the go to try and make this area we call home an even better place to live, work, visit and do business.