World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10th September every year. It is hosted by The International Association for Suicide Prevention.  The IASP “is dedicated to preventing suicide and suicidal behaviour and to alleviate its effects.”

If you have suicidal thoughts and feelings you are not alone. One in five of us think about suicide in our lifetimes.

• In the UK men are three times as likely to die by suicide than women.
• In 2019 there were 5691 suicides in England and Wakes 321 more than in 2018
• In 2019 there were 833 suicides in Scotland 49 more than in 2019.

If you have taken steps to end your life, or don’t think that you can keep yourself safe call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

Often our suicidal feelings won’t last, they are intense and overwhelming in the moment but in time they will pass. If you want to talk to someone about how you feel, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. They are available 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

How might you feel if you are suicidal?

Feeling suicidal can encompass a range of emotions and thoughts. You could have thoughts of not being here on one end of the spectrum to making a plan to end your life on the other. It might be that you want the pain to stop more than you want to die.

Why would someone what to end their life?

The reasons for someone wanting to take their own lives are wide and varied there is no one reason and there could be many contributing factors including; family or relationship issues, work and money issues, substance misuse, physical health problems, isolation, mental health concerns. It may not be obvious why someone has taken their own life or wants to take their own life, often people function well, and to the outside world appear fine.

What can you do if you feel suicidal

• Speak to your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
• Out of hours call NHS 111 for help
• If you are under a mental health team contact your care coordinator.
• Rethink Mental Illness has some useful ideas on how to cope with suicidal thoughts 
• For other online support please take a look at our blog about Online Support

Free Helplines you can contact

Samaritans offers a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week support service. Call them free on 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) has a helpline (5pm – 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 HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. They’re open every day from 9am to midnight.

If you are Concerned about Someone else and their Suicidal Feelings

If you are worried that someone in your life maybe feeling suicidal or considering suicide. The Samaritans has an excellent page on supporting someone and looking after yourself.

Supporting Someone with Suicidal Thoughts

If you would like more formal help with suicidal feelings or you are concerend about someone else and would like support for yourself, and would like to make an appointment with Paul, please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can.