Samaritans, a mental-health support charity, has encouraged people not to bottle up their feelings, with suicide rates in England and Wales now at their highest in over 20 years and one-in-five of people experiencing suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.

According to a Samaritans poll, only 45 per cent of people feel comfortable talking to friends and family about their struggles. Furthermore, 46 per cent of the population would not start a conversation on the subject with someone they were concerned about, even if they knew that person was experiencing suicidal thoughts.

World Suicide Prevention Day was held on September 10, 2024, and the charity declared that things need to change.

Julie Bentley, CEO of Samaritans, said, “While discussing mental health has become more commonplace, there is still a taboo when it comes to suicide that is costing people their lives. We want to change this. By talking more openly about suicide, we can give people the chance to express how they feel and get the support they need. Suicide prevention is everyone’s business and the need to unite efforts across all fronts has never felt so urgent.

“Suicide rates are at their highest in more than 20 years, and we are still waiting to hear from the government about what they are going to do to reverse this. We will not stand for more silence on the issue. This World Suicide Prevention Day, the prime minister needs to speak up and demonstrate his commitment to suicide prevention with a clear plan of action before more lives are lost.”

To help everyone make a change that could save lives, Samaritans took the initials of World Suicide Prevention Day and issued tips to support conversations around suicidal thoughts.

What should people do:

  • Watch out for changes in behaviour that could mean someone’s having suicidal thoughts
  • Speak up to let someone know that there is support available
  • Play your part by reaching out to anyone you’re concerned about
  • Ditch the stigma – suicidal thoughts are far more common than most people know – so let’s talk about it!

Misha’s story

Samaritans also shared real-life stories to show people who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts that they aren’t alone and to help them ‘Find a Way to Say It’.

Misha, 32, from Derbyshire, said, “I was around 21, it was my second year of university, and I was on a project that I was doing badly with, and not feeling great with my mental health overall. I remember I felt like I might do something to harm myself. I thought maybe I wanted to try something else to help me feel better. I decided to call Samaritans.

“I think I spent an hour and a half just sitting on the phone to a volunteer. On the phone I was able to explore how I was feeling with the volunteer and think about what other answers there might be to how I was feeling. Just the opportunity to have a chat with someone who didn’t immediately panic when I spoke about suicide, was really helpful. I often say I’m still here because of that phone call.

“To anyone who is struggling with their own mental health, I’d say even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you’re not the only one who feels this way. And it is possible for these feelings to end. Find your way to talk to someone about it. It feels like a cliché but it’s true. There is always someone out there who can help.”

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