National Suicide Prevention Alliance

“It is important that you don’t feel afraid to say ‘Do you feel like taking your own life?’, because it won’t put the idea in their mind. To bring it out in the open, it relieves the situation, it takes the pressure out of the tyre.”   As part of our campaign to reduce stigma around suicide, Jonny Tatam-Hall - who lost his friend, Tom, to suicide - interviewed Ruby Wax, mental health advocate, founder and patron of Frazzled UK and author of ‘I’m Not As Well as I thought I was’, on her experiences of suicidality.   Ruby shares how important it is to seek help and #StartTheConversation if you’re worried about someone. You can watch the full video and find resources to help you to start the conversation on our stigma and suicide webpage: https://lnkd.in/etm7wq_J #StartTheConversation #LanguageMatters #SuicidePrevention #Stigma #LivedExperience #SuicideBereavement #Suicidality #ReachOut

NSPA member Woman's Trust have produced a new report - Living without hope.   The report provides an overview of the current research, legislative and policy landscape, highlighting how gaps in support, lack of awareness and inadequate responses perpetuate harmful and often life-threatening outcomes.    The top three findings are: ▪️ Half of all UK women who ask for mental health support are doing so because of domestic abuse.  ▪️ 50% of all women’s suicides are related to domestic abuse. ▪️ More men die by suicide each year, but more women attempt suicide (1 in 12 women compared to 1 in 20 men).    Woman’s Trust are calling on the government and other stakeholders to fund a £27m gap in urgent long-term mental healthcare for survivors, so fewer women feel they have no option but to take their own lives. https://lnkd.in/etp-Kw6f #SuicidePrevention #LivingWithoutHope #WomensHealth

Our March newsletter is out! It highlights some of the incredible work happening across the suicide prevention sector — from new alliance members and research, to stories of lived experience, policy developments, and funding opportunities. This month we’re featuring: ➡️ A blog from Grassroots Suicide Prevention on reducing suicide risk among women. ➡️ Resources from our members including Autistica, Support After Suicide Partnership and Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust on supporting autistic and neurodivergent people. ➡️ Details about a new national suicide prevention standard from BSI. ➡️ Training and learning opportunities from members Making Families Count and 4 Mental Health. ➡️ Job opportunities at Every Life Matters Cumbria. ➡️ Upcoming events across the UK, including from our member ROMA SUPPORT GROUP. If you work in suicide prevention or care about ensuring fewer lives are lost to suicide, this newsletter is for you. Read our March edition and join our mailing list: https://lnkd.in/eX6AKaMg #SuicidePrevention #Community #LivedExperience #Equity #Newsletter

Self-harm is often misunderstood and stigmatised. A recent article in Psyche magazine by Rory O'Connor and Ellen Townsend challenges some of the most persistent myths and offers practical guidance on how to support someone who may be struggling. Self-harm is not attention-seeking. It is a response to emotional distress and should always be taken seriously. Open, compassionate conversations can make a significant difference. Asking someone if they’re OK does not increase risk - it opens the door to support. We should not wait for people to reach out. Reaching in and offering a non-judgemental space to talk can be life-changing. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eZkm-9aM #SelfHarmAwareness #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth

Earlier this year, we spoke with Michael Fullerton, Director of Wellbeing at Achieve together about the gap in suicide prevention research for adults with learning disabilities. In this article, Michael discusses the need for greater research and collaboration: https://lnkd.in/eZPYDS-D #SuicidePrevention

Too many people experiencing suicidality, self-harm, or bereavement by suicide struggle to access the right support.  The National Suicide Prevention Alliance is a member of the Suicide Prevention Consortium alongside Samaritans, Support After Suicide Partnership, and WithYou. Since the Consortium launched in 2021, we have drawn on the expertise of our members and the voices of people with lived experience to influence policymakers and strengthen suicide prevention efforts in England. Today we launched our latest report as part of the Suicide Prevention Consortium which highlights two fundamental principles required for change: ▪️ No wrong door – People must be supported the first time they seek help, wherever that may be. ▪️ Person-centred and inclusive care – Support must be compassionate, inclusive, and tailored to individual needs. Through this report, we are calling on policymakers, commissioners, and practitioners to take sustained action in four key areas:    ▪️ Foster collaboration – Services must work together across mental health, primary care, substance use, and social care to provide seamless, joined-up support.    ▪️ Prioritise inclusion – Care must be accessible to everyone, regardless of background, identity, or circumstances.    ▪️ Raise staff awareness & build confidence – Ongoing training and knowledge-sharing will enable staff to provide compassionate, effective care.    ▪️ Support the workforce – Practitioners need mental health support, supervision, and a workplace culture that acknowledges the emotional demands of suicide prevention work. "It has been a privilege to work alongside SPC partners and NSPA Influencers to amplify lived experience and advocate for suicide prevention as an issue of equity and equality. We know people facing the greatest inequality and marginalisation are most at risk of suicide. A whole-system approach is essential, and by truly listening to people with lived and living experience, we can drive meaningful change and create more inclusive, effective support services to reduce suicides." - Jess Worner, NSPA Lived Experience Network Manager Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eVNUfqSp

NSPA Steering Group member Tim Woodhouse examines the link between domestic abuse and suicide in his latest report, produced as part of his Churchill Fellowship. It is estimated that over 1800 lives are lost annually due to domestic abuse-related suicides. The report aims to drive national discussions and action, with 66 recommendations across ten key areas to reduce domestic abuse-related suicides. View the report: https://lnkd.in/eU7F92xZ #SuicidePrevention

The UK’s first standard dedicated to suicide prevention is currently being developed by the BSI. The standard will provide comprehensive guidelines to support organisations in developing, implementing, and monitoring effective suicide prevention strategies. It aims to bring together best practices, ensure consistency, and help organisations contribute to reducing suicide rates. A draft of the standard will be released in spring 2025. As soon as a first draft is ready, it will undergo public consultation when it is made available for anyone to view and comment. Register your interest to be notified when the public consultation period opens and have your say: https://lnkd.in/e5svhcMM You can also hear from Marcus Long about how the British Standards Institution's new standard is addressing suicide prevention: https://lnkd.in/ejDM5XZ9 #SuicidePrevention

Universities play a vital role in suicide prevention. Many NSPA members are leading the way in this space - embedding suicide prevention into university life, providing specialist support, and ensuring help is available when it’s needed. Today we’re highlighting the expertise of NSPA organisational members working in higher education, including Bournemouth University, Leeds Arts University, Leeds Beckett University, Middlesbrough College, University Centre Leeds and University Centre Quayside (UCQ) Learn more about their work via our website: https://lnkd.in/dafRe4zB If your organisation is involved in suicide prevention in higher education, we’d love to hear about the work you’re doing. #SuicidePrevention #HigherEducation #UniversityMentalHealthDay

Losing someone to suicide is incredibly difficult, and everyone’s journey through grief is different. 'Help is at Hand' provides both emotional and practical guidance, enabling you to find the support that feels right for you. Some sections focus on how you may be feeling, while others focus on what may be happening. You’ll also find further support resources and insights from others who have experienced what you may be going through. If you or someone you know has been bereaved by suicide, this guide is here to help. You are not alone. 💜 Download the guide: https://lnkd.in/ehjEkcRF #SuicideBereavement #Postvention