It’s World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday 10 September 2003. This awareness day highlights that we can all play a part in helping prevent suicide by showing compassion and empathy to those experiencing suicidal thoughts and helping point them towards recovery. Try our tips for opening up these difficult conversations.
Every year on 10 September, organisations around the world come together to throw a spotlight on suicide prevention through World Suicide Prevention Day. This awareness day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organisation.
Every suicide is a tragedy with far-reaching consequences for the family and friends of the person who took their life. And suicide is a significant public health issue with profound social, emotional and economic effects on society. Here are some statistics:
- The World Health Organisation estimates that some 703,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year.
- The global suicide rate is over twice as high among men than women and over half of all deaths by suicide occur before the age of 50.
- Over the last few years (to 2021), more than 6,000 people in the UK have died by suicide each year with 5,219 suicides in England in 2021.
- In the UK, roughly three times as many men take their lives as women – with the highest rate of suicide among 45 to 54 year old men according to the Office for National Statistics.
- An individual suffering with depression is 20 times more likely to die by suicide than someone without depression (International Association for Suicide Prevention).
- Three out of four of people who die by suicide are not in contact with mental health services (University of Manchester study, 2002).
These latter two statistics suggest that, in many ways, suicide is a ‘silent killer’, where the role of stigma around mental health and societal taboos around not ‘being okay’ are important factors. That’s one of the reasons why the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is ‘creating hope through action’, focusing not only on what governments can do to make suicide prevention a priority, but also on the things that everyone can do in their communities to try to tackle suicide.
Broaching the topic of suicide
Understandably many people feel worried about asking someone if they feel suicidal for fear of not knowing what to say. But people who have been suicidal often say that it is a relief to talk about thoughts they are experiencing and that the words and actions of others have been important in helping them come through an episode of suicidal thinking.
They say that they weren’t looking for specific advice, rather that the compassion and empathy shown by others helped to turn things around for them and point them towards recovery. Just being there to listen and showing you care can help and you may be able to point people in the right direction for further help.
The Samaritans offers the following advice about starting a conversation with someone about suicide:
- Choose a good time, and somewhere without distractions.
- Use open questions that need more than a yes/no answer.
- “How are things, I’ve noticed you don’t seem quite yourself?” could be a good opener.
- Listen well. “How’s that making you feel?”
- Avoid giving your view of what’s wrong, or what they should do.
- Try to avoid saying things like “you’re not thinking of doing something stupid are you?”
- Be patient and show that you care, as this builds trust and helps someone to open up.
Samaritans also suggest trying the following questions:
- Have you thought about ending your life?
- Are you saying that you want to die?
- Are you thinking of ending your life, because you want to be dead, or is it because you want the situation you're in or the way you feel to stop?
Remember that having someone to listen with compassion, empathy and no judgement can really help to restore hope to someone who is feeling suicidal.
Organisations that can help
Call 116 123 for 24-hour confidential support for anyone in a crisis. This number is free from landlines and mobiles. Email: jo@samaritans.org
Charity for the prevention of youth suicide (under-35s). Call the helpline 24/7 on 0800 068 4141 now. Text 07860 039967. Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Helpline 5pm-midnight: 0800 585858
The Sussex Mental Healthline is a 24/7 mental health crisis line for anyone who may be in crisis and in urgent need of help with their mental health. Call NHS 111 and select option 2 or dial 0800 0309 500
Please note that the members of the Pathfinder West Sussex partnership do not offer crisis services. Contact the above organisations for crisis support or contact your GP or call the NHS 111 number to access specialist mental health telephone or face-to-face support.
