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World Suicide Prevention Day 2017
For World Suicide Prevention Day 2017 we focused on actions you can take in a minute to save a life.
In the UK, someone takes their life every 90 minutes. For this World Suicide Prevention Day, the NSPA and our members encouraged people to take a minute to change a life, so every 90 minutes we encouraged people to take a minute to do something than can have a positive impact on someone’s life.
Check out our list of actions you can take in a minute to change a life. Some of these actions sound small, but can help show people that you care about them, and change their mood. You could also find out how you can become a better listener, or how to start a difficult conversation, if someone you know is struggling.
Make a mate a cup of tea
Doing something small for someone, that could take just one minute, can make a huge difference to whether someone feels cared about and valued. Take a minute this World Suicide Prevention Day to do something that might change a life, even if it’s as simple as making a cup of tea.
Invite a mate to join you for a walk or a run
Alex Stanley used his training for the London marathon to invite friends to run with him, and talk about mental health. Find out more about what he did, and the benefits it had by watching this short video:
Take a campaign action
Samaritans: Help prevent suicide in your local area by joining Samaritans’ campaign and emailing your local politicians to ask them to do everything they can.
Mind: If you have been an in-patient in hospital following a mental health crisis, and have a bit of time now, please take this survey about experiences of crisis care, which will help to inform Mind’s campaigning work.
Papyrus: To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, PAPYRUS launched a year-long campaign to Save The #ClassOf2018. Watch their campaign video here.
Ask someone if they are doing OK
It doesn’t sound like much, but asking someone if they’re doing okay and really listening to what they say can make a huge difference. Fine doesn’t always mean fine, and Samaritans offers five simple listening tips to help make sure whoever you’re speaking to feels heard.
Connect with someone from a different generation and ask them for some advice
Not sure how to approach a certain situation? Broken something and not sure how to fix it? Instead of opening your laptop or using your smartphone and giving it a Google, reach out to someone older or younger than you who might be able to help. Asking someone for advice can really make them feel valued and boost their mood.
Like a friend’s cooking? Ask them to share a recipe
Cooking can be a great way to clear your head, and everyone has a dish they think they’re the best at and puts their own twist on the classics. Why not get a recommendation from a friend on how to liven up your Sunday roast, or your meal planning? It might inspire them too.
Don’t know what to say when someone seems upset? Find out useful tips and advice
If you’re worried that someone you know if thinking about suicide, Rethink Mental Illness offer some useful advice on how to reach out to them and how to find services and support groups.
CALM also provide tips on how to start a difficult conversation with someone you’re worried about, and they also provide a helpful list of other sources of support.
Read #DearDistressed’s powerful and heartfelt letters , written by people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts to their earlier selves, now they are in an emotionally-safer place.
Give a friend you’re thinking about a call or drop them a text
When someone’s feeling low, they often don’t feel that they can bother other people with their problems, or that they aren’t important enough for other people to worry about them. Giving someone you’re thinking about a text or a call doesn’t take much time, but can really help show someone you care and help change their mood.
Watch this video and find out about someone else’s experiences
Jonny was going to take his own life before Neil intervened. Find out more about their story by watching this short video:
Public Health England
Public Health England supports the cross-governmental strategy for suicide prevention by creating resources for local authorities and healthcare professionals to understand and prevent suicides in their areas or jurisdictions, and they work closely with the NSPA. Hear from their Chief Executive, Duncan Selbie, about World Suicide Prevention Day in this short video:
Many thanks to our project team and their organisations: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Healthwatch Wakefield, NHS Business Services Authority, Nightline Association, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, National Probation Service – London, Rethink Mental Illness, Samaritans, Stigma Statistics, Storm Skills Training, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, and Catherine Astey.