Today is World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September). What can YOU do to make a difference?Â
One is one too many
According to suicide prevention charity Samaritans UK, every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide and 1 in 4 of us has had suicidal thoughts.
Most of us will know someone who has taken or attempted to take their own life.
Every suicide is one too many and it’s up to us all to do what we can to help prevent deaths by suicide.
Make time to talk
In a survey of people with loved experience of suicide by Samaritans, 60% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by someone close to them, like a friend or family member, while 14% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by a stranger or someone they didn’t know.
For World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, Samaritans have devised some helpful web pages:
- How to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts, including real-life examples of how people’s suicidal thoughts were interrupted by strangers or someone they know.
- Ideas for how to support yourself if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts
Maybe you know someone – a friend, a family member, a colleague – who is struggling and you’re worried they may have suicidal feelings.
Make today the day you reach out to them and make time and space to give them the opportunity to talk.
Listen. Talk openly and honestly. Don’t judge. Help to enable them to seek support and find solutions.
Most of all, don’t be afraid – let them know it’s okay not to be okay and that you are there for them.
Guidance on talking about suicidal feelings
For more guidance on talking to someone about mental health and suicidal feelings, visit the Mind website.
Support if YOU have suicidal feelings
If you have suicidal feelings yourself, please know that there are people who want to support you because you deserve help. Please talk to someone you know, visit your GP, call the Mind helpline on 0300 123 3393 or call the Samaritans on 116 123.
For more information and advice, visit the Samaritans website