World Suicide Prevention Day is hosted on 10 September each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and provides the opportunity for people, across the globe, to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.

Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the country, but suicides among teenage girls and young women have almost doubled in recent years.

The 2021-2023 theme for World Suicide Prevention Day, as set by the International Association for Suicide Prevention is ‘creating hope through action’.

By reflecting on how you can support someone in your life who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or at risk of suicide. Encouraging understanding and sharing experiences creates a society where people have the confidence to take action, building hope for the future.

What is Suicide

Suicide is when someone ends their own life. It’s a very tragic response to difficult situations and feelings, perhaps most tragic because it is preventable. Thousands of people in the UK end their lives by suicide each year and one in five of us think about suicide in our lifetimes.

Having suicidal thoughts doesn’t mean that someone has a mental illness, but there is a connection between mental ill health and suicidal thoughts.

Suicidal thoughts and feelings can be complex, frightening, confusing and lonely.

There is no single reason for why people die by suicide. Social, psychological and cultural factors can contribute to a person being at greater risk of suicide.

Learning about the possible risk factors linked to suicidal thoughts, along with how it can be prevented, may help you save a life. This may be someone else’s, or it may be your own life.

Risk factors

There is no single reason why people die by suicide. People think of suicide for many different reasons. Sociological, economical, psychological and genetic factors can contribute to a person being at greater risk of suicide.

A risk factor might include:

• difficult life events, such as a traumatic childhood or experiencing
  physical or emotional abuse,
• something upsetting or life-changing such as a relationship ending
  or a loved one dying,
• misusing drugs or alcohol,
• living alone or having little social contact with other people,
• having a mental health condition such as depression
• self-harming,
• having a physical health condition, especially if this causes chronic pain or
  serious disability,
• problems with work or money,
• being a young person, or
• being a middle-aged man

What to do if you are at risk of suicide

If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, seek professional support.

Contact your:

• GP and ask for an emergency appointment
• Local urgent mental health helpline (numbers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found here)
• Local NHS 111 service

Don’t make a decision today

You don’t need to act on your thoughts right now. Try to focus on just getting through today and not the rest of your life.

You may have had these thoughts before, but you feel less able to cope today. You might find that you are more able to cope in a few days.

Be aware of your triggers

Triggers are things that might make you feel worse. Triggers are different for different people. You may find that certain music, photos or films make you feel worse. Try to stay away from these.

Stay away from drugs and alcohol

Alcohol and drugs affect the way you think and feel. They can affect your judgement, concentration, behaviour and emotions. Substance use might make you more likely to act on suicidal thoughts.

Go to a safe place

Go to a place where you feel safe, such as a crisis café, a friends’ house or your garden.

Talk to other people

It could be helpful for you to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. There are different people who can help. You could speak to friends, family, your GP, emotional support line such as Samaritans, or emotional support texting service such as Shout.

Be around other people

You may find it too difficult to speak to anyone at the moment. That’s okay. But try not to spend too much time alone. You could go to a shopping centre, gym, coffee shop or park. Being around people can help to keep you safe, even if they don’t know how you’re feeling.

Distract yourself

You might feel it is impossible not to focus on your suicidal thoughts or why you feel that way. If you focus on your thoughts, it might make them feel stronger and harder to cope with. Try doing things that you enjoy to distract you.