The offices of Runcorn Town Hall may look like any other admin building, but the work taking place in one small corner of them is literally saving lives.

While suicides have risen in the North West in recent years, rates in Halton have been falling and are now lower than the regional and national average.

Despite funding cuts being imposed on councils up and down the country, Halton has continued to fund a service which works with organisations like community groups, employers, charities and schools via outreach work, training and workshops to help spot the early signs of mental distress and suicidal thoughts.

The team has also recently expanded its work with a trailblazing programme to specifically help men. Nationally, three times as many men take their own lives compared to women, with some experts labelling it a ‘silent epidemic.’

Kate Bazley, Mental Health and Wellbeing lead at Halton Health Improvement Team, is quick to point out that they are not therapists and do not work directly with the public, but are more about building capacity throughout the borough and helping organisations to help others.

“We do a lot of campaign work, we do a lot of training.” She said.

“We're skilling people so when we're not there they know how to interact with someone or recognise somebody who might not be doing so well or have difficult conversations.”

According to figures, 66 per cent of suicides in Halton are male and the average age is 45.

So one of the team - Aileen Donaghy - has been specifically tasked with focussing on prevention of male suicide, a ground breaking role which is possibly unique in the sector.

She said: "I've spoke to people about my role and they've all said they've never heard of it before."

She added: "It's middle-aged men that the focus is on. The risk factors are mainly to do with unemployment stresses, job stresses, relationship stresses, particularly breakdown, divorce, children, custody battles, and bereavement."

Aileen, who has been in post for just over six months, said that one of the issues which contribute to male suicide is that men have traditionally been encouraged to keep a lid on their problems.

“When you look at how a man back in the day was supposed to present himself, you didn't talk about your problems, you just got on with it.” She said.

“If something happened you’d cope with that, you’d deal with it, you’d do it by yourself, and you get on with it. But it gets harder and harder. So that's leading them to think that the only option they have left to get rid of how they're feeling is suicide.”

One of the methods used to help men talk about their feelings is working with community groups and charities which help build male friendships and provide activities. Kate said men are much more likely to open up while they are engaged in something else, such as walking or playing sport.

“There's this whole misconception that men don't talk.” Aileen added. But where my role comes in is that I'm trying to make society and local people say that men do talk, it's just we're not listening.”

The team also runs a website called Calm Your Mind, which has been developed with local men with lived experience around mental health. It also signposts people to clubs, groups and mental health support for those in crisis.

Kate is also quick to point out that the reasons behind suicide are complex and that while the figures are 'heading in the right direction', it will not feel that way to someone who is in the middle of such a terrible situation.

She added: "You want to keep people as well as possible and life isn't always sunshine and mangoes. There’s always going to be barriers and you want communities to be able to overcome those issues, whether that's a community group, whether it's a workplace, or whether it's a school, we want all of those to be as resilient as they can, so they can get by through those tough times, and come out better the other side."

She added: “But sometimes you do need support, and it's about making sure that people know where that is as well.”

Calm Your Mind can be found here.

The Samaritans charity is available around the clock, every day of the year, providing a safe place to talk for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Call 116 123 (this number is free to call and will not appear on a phone bill), 01204 521200 or email jo@samaritans.org.