Samaritans - founded by a man from North Lincolnshire, calls for suicide prevention

This World Suicide Prevention Day, Samaritans is urging the nation to ditch the stigma of talking about suicide by helping people ‘Find a Way to Say It’.

With suicide rates in England and Wales now at their highest in over 20 years and one-in-five of people experiencing suicidal thoughts in their lifetime1, the charity is encouraging people not to bottle up their feelings.

According to an earlier poll commissioned by Samaritans, only 45% of people feel comfortable talking to friends and family about their struggles and 46% of the population would not start a conversation on the subject with someone they were concerned about, even if they knew that person was experiencing suicidal thoughts.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, things need to change and the charity wants to encourage everyone to play their part.

Julie Bentley, CEO of Samaritans, said: “While discussing mental health has become more commonplace, there is still a taboo when it comes to suicide that is costing people their lives. We want to change this. By talking more openly about suicide, we can give people the chance to express how they feel and get the support they need. Suicide prevention is everyone’s business and the need to unite efforts across all fronts has never felt so urgent.

“Suicide rates are at their highest in more than 20 years and we are still waiting to hear from the government about what they are going to do to reverse this. We will not stand for more silence on the issue. This World Suicide Prevention Day, the Prime Minister needs to speak up and demonstrate his commitment to suicide prevention with a clear plan of action before more lives are lost.”

Samaritans’ shares real life stories to show people who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts that they aren’t alone, and to help them “Find a Way to Say It”.

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