World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is a significant advocacy and communication based event aimed at reaching national organisations, governments and the general public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented.

WSPD is considered an effective tool in these efforts and the WHO Report: Preventing Suicide: a Global Imperative (WHO, 2014) marks it as a policy achievement, stating:

'This day has spurred campaigns both nationally and locally and has contributed to raising awareness and reducing stigma'.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, we want to show everyone that talking about difficult feelings, including suicidal thoughts, doesn’t have to be scary.

A recent poll found that only 45% of people feel comfortable talking to family and friends about suicidal thoughts, compared to 74% who said they feel comfortable talking about mental health.

What Should People Do

Watch out for changes in behaviour that could mean someone’s having suicidal thoughts

Suicidal thoughts can be complex, frightening and confusing. But they’re more common than many of us realise and 1 in 5 of us will experience them. People experiencing suicidal thoughts might be going through a range of emotions, including feeling trapped, overwhelmed, like a burden, or hopeless.

Everyone copes and reacts in their own way, but there may be signs that someone is struggling to cope and having suicidal feelings. Some signs to look out for include when someone is:

• Distancing themselves or not replying to messages
• Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless or trapped
• Not doing the things they usually enjoy
• Finding day-to-day tasks difficult

Speak up to let someone know that there is support available

Maybe you have a friend or family member who is struggling to cope, and you don’t know how to support them. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that someone is acting differently and want to check if things are OK.

Play your part by reaching out to anyone you’re concerned about

If you’re worried about someone, reach out to them. Ask how they’re feeling and show that you care. Once someone starts to share how they’re feeling, it’s important to listen without judgement. Ask how they’re doing, using open questions that need more than a yes or no answer, such as “How do you feel?” or “What’s that like for you?” Try not to jump in with your advice or opinions.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts. People who have been suicidal have often said it is a relief to talk about thoughts they are experiencing. Just being there to listen and showing you care can help.

Ditch the stigma – suicidal thoughts are far more common than most people know – so let’s talk about it!

1 in 5 of us will struggle with suicidal thoughts in our lifetime. But the stigma attached to suicide can prevent people from getting the support they need.

By highlighting how suicidal thoughts are more common than people might expect, and that talking about suicidal thoughts is helpful, we can help break the stigma surrounding the subject that often prevents people from opening up.

Content sourced from the WHO (who.int) & Samaritans (samaritans.org).