PEOPLE across the Keighley district are being urged to share 'coping strategies' to help anyone struggling with their mental health.

Suggestions from people who have faced issues themselves will be collated and then published in the Book of Cope.

The initiative has been developed by volunteers working on a project commissioned by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s suicide prevention programme.

All the volunteers have personally experienced the impact of suicide, either through feeling suicidal themselves, supporting someone else or losing a friend or family member.

They have held drop-in sessions across West Yorkshire, where people had the chance to design their own creative pages for the book.

Now the team is appealing to the wider public for submissions.

Amongst the volunteers is Seb O’Sullivan, who says: "I got involved in this project because if I can help just one person, not only will that support the individual but it will make a difference to their family and friends.

"My own advice on coping mechanisms is to talk and get help – to get off your chest what you are feeling and why."

Also involved in the initiative is Arlie Haslam, a suicide prevention co-ordinator at Leeds Mind.

She says: "We came up with the idea for Book of Cope when we were talking about coping strategies and how important peer support can be.

"Our project involves a team of people who all have similar lived experience. Being with people who truly understand can feel very healing.

"We wanted to capture this feeling in book form – a collection of coping strategies from people all over West Yorkshire.

"We hope the book lets people know they’re not alone."

Sarah Smith, for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, says: "This is a fantastic project from our volunteers and we hope the end result will be a book packed full of useful strategies and advice, offering something for everyone.

"It would be wonderful to hear from as many people as possible, so if there is something that helps you, get in touch to share it in the book – and it could end up helping someone else."

Pages, up to A4 size, can be emailed to Arlie.Haslam@leedsmind.org.uk or posted to Leeds Mind at Clarence House, 11 Clarence Road, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4LB.

Ideas can also be emailed for a volunteer to create the page.

Submissions are open until the end of October.