The Orange Button Community Scheme is a suicide prevention initiative that was launched in September 2022 by Worcestershire County Council Public Health. Last week, 22 November, it saw its first face to face event at Warndon Hub in Worcester for Orange Button wearers across Worcestershire.
By wearing an Orange Button, people with the right skills and knowledge can choose to make themselves visible to those in their communities who may need a conversation about suicide or those who may be worried about someone else.
Being an Orange Button wearer means you are comfortable to talk to about suicide, can listen without judgement and will signpost individuals to support.
Speakers from South Warwickshire and Worcestershire MIND and STEPWAY shared why the Orange Button is so important to them and their organisations. One Orange Button wearer, Angell Phoenix, also shared her personal story of why she became an Orange Button wearer.
The event saw a good turn out with valuable discussions on how to take the scheme forward, and stall holders were present from MIND, Papyrus, Samaritans, Worcestershire’s Bereaved by Suicide Service, Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Wellbeing and Recovery College and the local Urgent Mental Health Helpline.
The scheme currently has 538 wearers across Worcestershire and Herefordshire. A 1 year evaluation is underway and 2024 will bring new ways of integrating the scheme into more organisations and more communities across both counties. A face to face event for Herefordshire Orange Button wearers is currently being planned and will take place early 2024.
If you want to learn more about the Orange Button Community scheme, please visit our website here.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, you can find support, advice and information on the Now We’re Talking website.