World Suicide Prevention Day

People often think of interruptions as something annoying; a phone going off during a film, or someone telling the punchline of your joke before you do. But sometimes, an interruption could save a life.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, we’re sharing one important message: If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them you care.

For Paul, an unexpected interaction with a taxi driver simply asking if he was OK was all it took to interrupt his suicidal thoughts:

“A stranger stopped me in my tracks and suggested I call Samaritans. I don’t know what it was. Obviously they saw something – a direction I was walking, my facial expression. And they just intervened, and they recommended Samaritans."

"It seems a bit drastic to say I wouldn't be here if it wasn’t for one conversation, but that is the reality.”

Tune into TalkSPORT or any Virgin Radio station on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, to hear Paul explain how a simple interruption could save a life.

Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide* and 1 in 4 of us has had suicidal thoughts.**

We surveyed people with lived experience of suicide and the majority told us that their suicidal thoughts have been interrupted.***

• 60% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by someone close to them, like a friend or family member.
• 14% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by a stranger or someone they didn’t know.

Our World Suicide Prevention Day campaign is co-created with people who have lived experience of suicidal thoughts. We’re sharing their experiences and insights to help you take action if you suspect someone may be suicidal. We've put together the following webpages:

• How to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts, including real-life examples of how people’s suicidal thoughts were interrupted by strangers or someone they know.
• Ideas for how to support yourself if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts

Small interruptions you make and actions you take could help someone who is suicidal. You don’t have to be an expert to save someone’s life.

In response to our survey, many people with lived experience recalled times when those close to them, such as family members or friends, had interrupted their suicidal thoughts.

Others talked about times when people they were less close to, even total strangers, interrupted their suicidal thoughts.

If you'd like to support World Suicide Prevention Day, please download the social media graphics below and share them alongside the suggested social media messages. Or visit our toolkit for funders and partners.

Let’s prevent suicide today. Because tomorrow’s too late.

If you'd like to raise awareness in your workplace and direct people to this webpage, download our World Suicide Prevention Day PDF below.