Jay’s toolkit to support adults at risk of suicide launched at collaborative event in Manchester

A new resource to support adults at risk of self‑harm or suicide was launched in May at The University of Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery, at an event hosted by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration.

Jay’s Personalised Safety Planning Toolkit is a co‑designed set of materials created with researchers, people with lived experience of suicide and self‑harm, and healthcare professionals. It offers a more personalised approach to safety planning within health and care settings, supporting meaningful conversations around self‑harm and suicide.

Inspired by the family of Jaymie Mart, known as Jay, who died by suicide in 2012 at the age of 32, the toolkit – which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) – offers clear, practical guidance to help adults create and review personalised safety plans.

Jay’s mother, Paula Mart, has played a key role in shaping the research, sharing her experiences to help improve support for people during times of acute mental health crisis and to prevent deaths by suicide. She said:

“The toolkit helps as a guide in understanding and setting up an individualised safety plan for people in difficult times. They can help to change a mindset during times of crisis, that will hopefully keep them safe until they can get help,  if needed, from family, friends or mental health professionals.”

When describing the new resource, Katherine McGleenan, nurse consultant in suicide prevention research and lead of Jay’s study, said:

“We know suicide can be prevented, however often people don’t know how to help or where to find support, for themselves or others. We can all make a difference, whatever role we are in. Jay’s toolkit is a powerful resource to help increase understanding, skills and confidence of how to support personalised safety planning. It might help someone who’s struggling and could potentially save lives.”

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Source: NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration, 15 June 2026