It’s Suicide Prevention Day, an annual awareness-raising event which falls from the 10th of September every year. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) notes, suicide claims the lives of more than 720 000 people every year. This year, the theme is “Changing the narrative.” It “calls on us all to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and foster open, compassionate conversations about suicide.” This Suicide Prevention Day, we are all called to challenge our own misunderstandings and fears around suicide and speak up. “It is about shifting from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support — creating environments where people feel able to speak up and seek help.”

Last year, ministers have pledged to reduce suicide rates in England within two and a half years as they launch the new prevention strategy with more than 100 new initiatives after concerns over rising deaths and self-harm among children and young people.

In 2022, there were 5,275 suicides in England, equivalent to 10.6 suicides per 100,000 people, according to the Office for National Statistics, with males aged 50-54 found to have the highest suicide rate (22.5 per 100,000).

“While overall the current suicide rate is not significantly higher than in 2012, the rate is not falling,” a government document revealed. “We must do all we can to prevent more suicides, save many more lives and ultimately reduce suicide rates.”

The new strategy highlights how rates of suicide among children and young people have increased in recent years, despite being low overall, adding: “Urgent attention is needed to address and reverse these trends.”

According to the document, self-harm rates have also been rising among children and young people in the UK

The new measures being launched will also aim to support other specific groups at risk of suicide, including middle-aged men, autistic people, pregnant women and new mothers.

The initiatives planned (read the full pledge here) include teaching suicide prevention in schools, Crisis text lines to be rolled out in all areas of England, better support for middle-aged men and a national alert system to highlight new methods of suicide.

While we might know the devastating facts like suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, but what can we all do right now to help those contemplating suicide and how can we help those in our lives struggling with bad mental health?

What warning signs can you look out for?

Often, someone having suicidal thoughts won’t tell you explicitly that this is happening to them. It’s important to try and be aware when someone close to you has changes in their behavior, as a first step, in order to support them. Trust your gut feelings – if a friend, family member, or work colleague you know well is acting out of character, and you feel concerned, it’s best to speak to them.

According to Rethink Mental Illness, the below can be indicators that they might be having suicidal thoughts…

• becoming anxious
• being more irritable
• being more confrontational
• becoming quiet
• having mood swings
• acting recklessly
• sleeping too much or too little
• not wanting to be around other people
• avoiding contact with friends and family
• having different problems with work or studies
• saying negative things about themselves.