(TW: Suicide, Self-Harm)

This year, on September 10th, the Samaritans will host its 20th World Suicide Prevention Day since the day’s beginning in 2003. Alongside other major charities, such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention, the Samaritans will host a number of events and initiatives across the globe with the intention of bringing greater awareness to the continued struggle that many face.

It is estimated that suicide is the cause of death for around 700,000 individuals across the world each year. This figure can seem unfathomably large, which is why it can be more impactful for some to hear that, in the UK alone, each week around 115 individuals take their own lives. These statistics, however, don’t account for the many lives that are also profoundly affected by the suicide of those close to them, nor the 1 in 15 who attempt to take their life

These figures, when closely examined also offer insight into the landscape of mental health across the UK. Of the 115 cases of suicide occurring each week, for example, 75% are male. This means that men are significantly more likely to attempt suicide than women. In the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged below 50, with around 10 men committing suicide each day.

It can be difficult to read these figures. Not only because they describe a great deal of tragedy but also because suicide is preventable. 

One of the biggest hurdles that we, as a society, face when reducing the levels of suicide is the continued stigma of mental health. There remains a pervasive sense that admitting to mental ill-health is wrong. Within the workplace, mental health issues are often disguised as physical ailments for fear of stigma, which can be a significant number of people when 1 in 6 are estimated to experience mental health problems at work. 

Men also continue to experience expectations of manning up, encouraging a sense of shame around mental health. This difficulty is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that, despite men being far more likely to commit suicide, they are less likely to seek support for their mental health than women. Suicide is also an action that often occurs in close proximity to other issues. 1 in 14 individuals experience self-harm for example, while 1 in 5 experience suicidal thoughts.

So, while our wider society needs to make a great number of changes in order to help prevent suicide, there are a great many decisions individuals can make that can make a significant change to others struggling with their mental health with talking being the foundation.

Therapy sessions have been shown to reduce the likelihood of suicide by over 25%. Even outside of professional settings, talking openly and directly about mental can help to improve the mental health of others, even encouraging those with thoughts of self-harm or suicide to seek support and begin recovery. For those wanting to approach the subject with someone close to them but experiencing their own concerns about saying the wrong thing, mental health charity, Mind, has the following advice:

• Ask open questions: Eliminate questions that have only ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to encourage conversation
• Give them time: Ensure that they know there is no rush to talk or answer a question
• Take the seriously: While it can sometimes be difficult to understand what is being expressed, it is important to give their conversation weight
• Don’t judge: By the same token, it is crucial that there is no sense of judgement
• Be direct: It can be incredibly difficult to ask someone if they are having suicidal thoughts but doing so, and being direct, can often be the best option

If you would like to discuss your mental health in a safe and non-judgmental space, our counsellors are here to help. Reach out to our team for an initial consultation by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk or, alternatively, by calling 07751 271709.