World Suicide Prevention Day: promoting awareness, support, and mental health care

When is World Suicide Prevention Day?

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place every year on 10 September. It was first established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to the IASP, the event aims reduce stigma and raise awareness amongst organisations, government, and the public that suicides are preventable.

This year’s theme is focused on ‘Changing the Narrative’ around suicide. It aims to overcome the culture of silence and stigma in favour of openness, understanding, and support.

Suicide: the statistics

Figures from the WHO suggest that more than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

While it tends to be thought of as an issue which only impacts those in high-income countries, over 77% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2019.

The mental health charity, Samaritans, regularly shares the latest data on the number of suicide deaths in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. 

Those living in the most deprived areas of England have a higher risk of suicide than those living in the least deprived areas. The North East of England has the highest suicide rate, compared to London which has the lowest. 

Of course, for every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide and many more who experience suicidal thoughts and ideation. 

While men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide, women are more likely to report suicidal thoughts.

What does it mean to be suicidal?

Suicide is not a standalone mental health problem, but it is linked with mental distress and conditions such as depression and PTSD. 

Being suicidal means having thoughts, feelings, or intentions about ending one’s own life. Suicidal thoughts can range from having general thoughts about not wanting to be here to making a plan about ending your life. 

You might feel:

• hopeless or trapped
• tearful, anxious or overwhelmed by negative thoughts
• desperate
• tempted to do risky or reckless things because you don’t care what happens to you
• like you want to avoid other people

What are the risk factors?

Suicide is a complex issue, and there is rarely a single reason or explanation for someone wishing to end their life.

The Mental Health Foundation identifies some of the risk factors as:

• previous suicide attempts, or previous self-harm
• being unemployed
• having a physical health problem, including chronic pain
• living alone
• being dependent on alcohol or drugs
• having mental health problems

Looking after your mental health 

Just as we take steps to maintain our physical health, it is equally important to care for our mental and emotional health. This can help reduce stress, improve relationships, and enable us to better cope with the challenges life throws at us.

Some effective ways to nurture mental health can include practising mindfulness and meditation, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, and seeking social support from friends, family, or support groups.

But it’s also vital to recognise when we are struggling and may need professional help.

When to seek help

Everyone experiences difficult emotions such as stress, sadness, or anxiety at times, but when these feelings become overwhelming, persistent, or start interfering with daily life, it may be time to reach out for support. 

Signs that you may need help include feeling hopeless, withdrawing from friends and activities you once enjoyed, experiencing changes in sleep or appetite, or having difficulty concentrating. 

Where to get help

For non-urgent mental health support you can make an appointment with your GP to discuss how you’re feeling. They may offer medication such as SSRIs to help your symptoms and/or refer you for talking therapy. 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and need urgent support, you can:

• call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
• call NHS 111 for out-of-hours help
• contact your mental health crisis team if you have one

There are also a number of free helplines and support services you can reach out to:

• Samaritans offer a support service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call them free on 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) has a helpline (5 pm to midnight) and webchat for anyone who’s having a tough time and needs to talk.
• Papyrus supports people under 35 who have thoughts of suicide and others who are concerned about them. You can call their HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org (24 hours)

If you have seriously harmed yourself or don’t feel that you can keep yourself safe, call 999 or go straight to A&E.

How to support someone with suicidal thoughts

If someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, the most important thing you can do is listen without judgment. 

Advice from the Samaritans encourages loved ones to ask someone directly about suicide. Evidence shows this can protect them by giving them permission to tell you how they feel, and know that they are not a burden.

If someone does open up about how they are feeling, take them seriously, don’t try to solve their problems, but offer support and encourage them to talk about how they're feeling. The Samaritans have more tips for supporting someone on their website.

Medical cannabis, mental health and suicidal thoughts

Releaf treats patients with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. In fact, these are some of the most common conditions for which medical cannabis is prescribed in the UK. Some recent observational research has also found that treatment with cannabis-based medicines reduced the prevalence and intensity of suicidal ideation.

However, everyone responds differently to medical cannabis, so it’s crucial that this treatment is provided with clinical oversight. Releaf has several doctors specialising in psychiatry who can help you make informed choices about your health.

If you feel your needs have not been met with traditional medicines or treatments, you can use the free eligibility checker or contact the team for further information. Always speak to a medical professional if you have any concerns or before making changes to your treatment plan.