Prince of Wales opens men's suicide centre in Birmingham

The Prince of Wales opened a new center for men in suicidal crisis in Birmingham on Monday, marking Mental Health Awareness Week with a call for greater open discussion about suicide prevention.

William, who has previously opened the charity's centers in Liverpool, London, and Newcastle, toured the James Place facility and met staff, service users, and representatives from partner organizations including Papyrus, MindOut, and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance. The Birmingham site is the fourth for James Place, which provides free, rapid therapy sessions, typically six to eight face-to-face meetings with trained therapists in a calm environment. Men can self-refer or be referred by healthcare professionals.

Speaking at the event, William praised the staff and expressed hope for expansion. "The team here are fantastic," he said. "I hope we can get more of you around the UK, because it is in need of it sadly. We need to talk more about suicide, talk more about preventing it and talk about getting it to young men and women earlier, so we don't have to have these centres in the very long run. That is the aim."

During the visit, the Aston Villa supporter, who attended the team's...