The Prince of Wales has arrived in Birmingham to open a new men's suicide prevention centre, marking Mental Health Awareness Week. William will tour the facility run by James' Place, a charity providing free therapy for men in suicidal crisis.
During his visit, the Prince will meet staff and men whose lives have been saved by the charity at its other locations. James' Place was founded in memory of James Wentworth-Stanley, a Newcastle University student who took his own life in 2006 at age 21. This year marks two decades since his death.
Since 2018, the charity's three existing centres have saved over 5,100 men's lives. The charity exclusively supports men, who account for more than 75 per cent of suicides in the UK. The Birmingham venue is the fourth centre, following successful programmes in Liverpool, London, and Newcastle.
When opening the London centre in 2022, William remarked: 'The one takeaway for me is the idea that there is a solution. I think men sometimes get so lost in the detail, they forget the bigger picture and being able to have that bit of support that can move them forward and there is hope and a brighter future.'
Earlier this year, William discussed men's mental health on BBC Radio 1's Life Hacks with Allan Brownrigg, director of clinical services at James' Place, and former client Nathan. During the conversation, the Prince described his own mental health 'deteriorating' while serving as an air ambulance pilot.
James' Place aims to open a fifth centre by 2027, enabling them to treat up to 2,000 men annually. Currently, men can self-refer or be referred by a healthcare professional. They typically receive six to eight face-to-face sessions with a trained therapist in a calm, non-clinical setting.
In October, James' Place became one of five founding partners of the new National Suicide Prevention Network (NSPN), established by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Through the network, funding supports James' Place to pilot two new satellite services over 12 months in the North East and North West of England, expanding access to free, life-saving therapy in community settings.
During the visit, William will also meet other network partners, including Papyrus, MindOUT, and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA), to share key learnings.
