World Suicide Prevention Day

Trigger Warning: this page includes mention of suicide.

This is no longer just another awareness campaign. Now, it must be a call to ACTION.

This is NOT about fixing employees or putting the onus on them to ‘heel themselves’. This is about organisations, particularly Boards and senior leaders, taking responsibility for embedding psychosocial safety in their workplace culture through work design, environmental factors and the workplace itself. It’s about building positive mental health in and through work so that no one reaches crisis point and mental health awareness becomes everyone’s responsibility.

At its simplest form, it’s about treating mental health with the same due care and attention as physical health.

On this page you can:

• Find out more about World Suicide Prevention Day.
  
  
• Watch and download free resources:
  
  • Access our new free suicide prevention training for construction SMEs and sole traders.
  • Watch two new videos on suicide prevention and post-suicide response.
  • Download and watch free resources: two videos, a prevention resource, a post-suicide resource and an infographic.
  • Download a free poster.
    
    
• Discover why this awareness day is important.
  
  
• Read relevant articles on mental wellbeing.

What is World Suicide Prevention Day?

World Suicide Prevention Day is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation. It was established to ‘raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented’. We agree. This is why we advocate for building positive mental health in and through work by creating a culture of prevention. This includes Boards and senior leaders creating a workplace culture founded in psychosocial safety, by:

• Identifying and mitigating the causes of mental ill-health in the workplace.
  
  
• Ensuring effective primary and secondary interventions are implemented and embedded across the organisation (and supply chain, if relevant).
  
  
• Providing all workers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to recognise mental ill-health in themselves and in their colleagues. 
  
  
• Normalising conversations about mental health, which will help end the stigma that persistently surrounds it. As a result, more people will be empowered to seek support if/when they need it. 

Throughout 2024-2026, the theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. The aim is to ‘shift from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support’. This is why we are encouraging everyone in our community to start the conversation within their own organisations and across their networks.  

Whilst 10 September is a good way to raise awareness of this important topic, please remember that we should work to prevent suicide every day of every year.

When Is World Suicide Prevention Day?

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September every year.

Resources and Training for World Suicide Prevention Day

At Mates in Mind, we work with organisations to improve the mental health of their workforce by providing the skills, clarity, and confidence to employers on how to raise awareness, improve understanding, implement effective interventions and end the stigma that surrounds mental health.
 
This is why we have created a suite of resources to support organisations not only during World Suicide Prevention Day, but also to build a supportive workplace culture which creates positive mental health in and through work.

If you are one of our Members (formerly known as ‘Supporters’), please log in to the Portal to access your own suite of resources and a selection of posters.

Suicide Prevention Training

In partnership with The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Baton of Hope we have developed a digital first approach to mental health training, including suicide prevention, which is free for construction SMEs and sole traders. If this is you, please use the following links to access the two free suicide prevention training modules:

• Suicide awareness training.
• Suicide prevention training.

If you have SMEs and sole traders within your supply chain, please share the links above with them so that they can access the training.

Suicide Prevention and Post-Suicide Response Resources

We have created a new video to accompany our updated Suicide Prevention Day Resource Pack which focuses on creating a culture of prevention. However, we know that deaths by suicide may still occur, therefore, in order to support organisations through that challenging time, we have also created a Post-Suicide Response Guide, an accompanying video and an infographic. 

These resources have been created to assist employers, including senior leaders, line managers, HR and health and safety representatives to create a culture of prevention within their organisation, as well as support individuals should a colleague die by suicide.

To watch and download these resources, please complete the short form below.

World Suicide Prevention Day Poster

You can download a free poster and share it across your organisation.

Discover more Free Resources

Please also visit our mental health and wellbeing resources page to download additional free resources. 

Please sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be informed when we publish new campaign pages (like this one), blogs, resources, training, programmes and more.

Why is World Suicide Prevention Day important?  

The shocking statistics regarding the suicide tell us why World Suicide Prevention Day is so important: 

• Three in four suicides are by men, with suicide the biggest cause of death for men under 50 (ONS).
  
  
• In 2024, there were 6,190 suicides registered in England and Wales (ONS).
  
  
• In 2023, there were 7,055 deaths officially registered as suicide in the UK. (House of Commons Library).
  
  
• Research has identified an increase in 'deaths of despair' – deaths attributed to alcohol, drugs, and suicide. These deaths have risen by 24% since the pandemic, equating to approximately 3,700 additional deaths in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels (Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Health Foundation).

As the Office of National Statistic report stated: ‘attempting to explain suicide is complex as it is likely that a number of factors act together to increase risk, including some job-related features. We believe employers can play a critical role in helping to prevent suicides.’ At Mates in Mind, we agree.

There is both a moral case, and a strong business case, for focusing on optimising the mental wellbeing of workers (whether directly employed or part of the supply chain). Placing prevention at the heart of changes to company culture is a first step in achieving that.

Further Reading on Mental Wellbeing

Discover how the team at Mates in Mind are creating lasting change at organisation and sector level through commissioning research, campaigning for change in policy and procurement, working in partnership with sector bodies, and providing evidence-informed effective interventions. Our research and advocacy work includes: the BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace and Mental Health in Construction JCOP.

Our blogs can help you find practical tips and guidance on suicide prevention, as well as how to manage stress in the workplace, create a culture of prevention at work, eradicate the culture of silence and address the stigma around mental health in the workplace.

A key pillar of our framework is to educate and inform the workforce, with tailored training, helping everyone understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to mental wellbeing.

Free and Confidential Support Services

If the information on this page has resonated with you, and if you or someone you know needs help or support, you can speak to one of the many free, confidential support services.

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Please sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be informed when we publish new campaign pages (like this one), new resources and new blogs in our ‘How to optimise your mental wellbeing’ series.

Ready to Build a Culture of Prevention?

Through working in partnership, we can create a mental health plan and a culture of prevention. 

Our dedicated team of Programme Managers work with organisations of any size to develop a tailored action plan, evaluating your organisation's priorities and gaps, and providing the tools and support you need.

This plan includes ongoing support with communication and delivery of your plan, as well as training opportunities, promotional materials, and a suite of tools (including awareness date resources) to enable you to drive long-lasting and meaningful change. 
 
Find out more about how we can help your organisation build a culture of prevention when you become a Member (formerly ‘Supporter’) by: 

• Visiting our Become a Member page.
  
  
• Calling: 020 3510 5018.
  
  
• Using our contact form.