10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day. There were 7,037 registered suicides in the UK in 2023, and the average suicide rate across the four nations was 13 per 100,000. Males are around 3x more likely to die by suicide than females, and on average, males aged 45-49 have the highest rate of suicide.
The focus of World Suicide Prevention Day this year is to change the narrative and start the conversation that might save lives.
We have focused before about breaking the taboo of suicide, and how important it is to talk about it in a more open and honest way. Keeping it hidden like it’s a dirty secret we’d rather wasn’t there does more harm than good. Ignorance simply covers up the problem – it might make us feel more comfortable to avoid talking about it, but that doesn’t solve the issue.
Take a look back at our previous blog post on the subject: Breaking The Taboo, and have a listen to our podcast with Brian Glass. He is a suicide awareness trainer who talked to us about his own experiences of mental health challenges and why it’s vital to bring suicide out into the open.
By doing so, we can improve understanding about how and why people get to the point where suicide feels like the only option, and the most constructive and sympathetic ways to talk about it. This can reduce the stigma and fear that surround suicide, and instead foster compassion, understanding and support for those in crisis.
If there is someone you are worried about, speak to them with empathy and openness – sometimes, simply asking ‘how are you feeling?’ is the opportunity they need to get help.
Every conversation has the potential to save a life. Talking lets people know they’re not alone.
If you need support, these organisations can help:
NHS 111
Samaritans: 116 123 | jo@samaritans.org
Papyrus: 0800 068 41 41 | pat@papyrus-uk.org
CALM: 0800 58 58 58
Shout: 85258 (text)
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
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