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RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. We provide, on call, a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service. With our lifeboats, lifeguards, safety advice and flood rescue we are committed to ending preventable loss of life at sea. The RNLI operates 237 lifeboat stations and 215 lifeguard units, rescuing over 10,000 people and saving 400 lives in 2014. With over 31,500 volunteers across the UK and Ireland, it relies on their dedication to carry out its vital work.
Our work in suicide prevention
We are exploring how the RNLI might help reduce water-related suicides across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Our initial focus includes conducting research and risk analysis to better understand the scale and nature of water-related suicides and self-harm in the UK. We are also working with suicide prevention agencies to develop collaborative projects that align with shared goals.
We aim to improve how we support our staff and volunteers in suicide awareness and prevention. We are developing a strategy to define our approach to water-related suicide prevention, contributing to national priorities and objectives.
Our current priorities
Through research we will improve our understanding of water-related self-harm and suicide, learn about current suicide prevention interventions and consider the transferability of interventions to coastal and inland waters. This will allow us to plan how the RNLI could contribute to suicide prevention as a whole. We will develop lasting partnerships with agencies with knowledge and expertise in suicide prevention and explore opportunities to work together on joint initiatives.
Suicide awareness and prevention training will be explored and how we might better equip our staff, crew and volunteers with the appropriate level of suicide awareness and prevention training so they are more able to recognise triggers and warning signs in themselves and others.
Our current challenges
Whilst our crews and lifeguards are often at the front line in responding to incidents of this nature, suicide prevention is a new area of involvement for the RNLI and we must develop our knowledge and understanding. The development of partnerships and collaboration with other agencies with expertise and experience in suicide prevention is therefore vital for us to move forwards.
We are also aware that the complex causes of self-harm and suicide are outside the direct control of the RNLI, as such the focus of our work will be to support other organisations more able to address them.