September and October was a busy time for the Samaritans' team with World Suicide Prevention Day and Party Conferences coming one after the other. A month on, we look back at our autumn of action.
Every year on 10th September we mark World Suicide Prevention Day. This year, we were delighted to be able to host a Reception to mark this important day in the Speaker's Rooms in the House of Commons. This gave us the opportunity to bring together MPs, Peers, civil servants and other stakeholders to share our policy research and why we need their help to ensure Government takes action to reduce rates of suicide in the UK.
We were delighted to be joined by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, and the Shadow Minister for Equalities, Mims Davies MP, to speak alongside our CEO. You can read some reflections on those speeches here.
One of our proudest moments was getting to hear from people with lived experience, who joined us in talking to stakeholders about why it's important for them to champion suicide prevention. One of those inspirational people was Isaac, who has shared their thoughts on the event below.
Every year, World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us that even the hardest conversations are worth having. For me, it’s more than a day in the calendar – it’s a chance to share what I’ve lived through, to help create space for others to do the same, and to highlight why listening and amplifying voices matters so much. Speaking openly about suicide is still challenging. It’s a subject wrapped in stigma and silence, and yet that silence is exactly what makes it so dangerous. When people feel they can’t talk about their struggles, when they feel unseen or unheard, it becomes harder to reach out for help. That’s why sharing lived experiences is so powerful. When someone says, “I’ve been there,” or “I understand,” it’s more than words – it’s permission. Permission to be honest, to seek support, to feel less alone. I know from my own journey how vital this is. There have been nights when the weight of everything felt unbearable, when I didn’t think anyone could understand or help. What made the difference was someone listening without judgment, offering space for me to talk through the pain. That moment of human connection reminded me that life, even at its darkest, has value and possibility. That’s the same principle behind the work we do every day – amplifying the voices of those affected by suicide. When people share their stories, it doesn’t just help them feel heard. It creates opportunity. It helps friends, families, colleagues, and communities understand what support is needed and how to provide it. It helps those supporting others feel capable and effective, able to make a real difference in someone’s life. And it can genuinely change outcomes – because even small acts of listening and care can prevent someone from taking irreversible steps. Holding space for dialogue around suicide is an act of courage and compassion. It’s about breaking down stigma and making it clear that no one has to carry this burden alone. By speaking out, by amplifying voices, we allow conversation to happen in a way that is safe, inclusive, and supportive. We turn a topic that has traditionally been taboo into one where understanding, empathy, and hope can flourish. At its heart, suicide prevention isn’t just about crisis intervention. It’s about connection, community, and compassion. It’s about making sure people know they are seen, that they matter, and that their experiences are valid. Every story shared, every voice amplified, creates a ripple effect – helping people reach the support they need, helping those around them feel capable of helping, and gradually changing the way society responds to a subject that affects so many lives. So this Suicide Prevention Day, my ask is simple: speak, listen, amplify, and hold space. Whether it’s sharing your own story, supporting someone else, or simply being present and attentive, these actions matter. They matter to the person struggling, to the person supporting them, and to everyone who benefits from a culture of openness and care. Lived experience has the power to transform lives, and by giving it voice, we create hope where it’s needed most.
Isaac (they/them) who gave a speech at World Suicide Prevention Day
Isaac speaking at World Suicide Prevention Day
Following our successful World Suicide Prevention Day reception, we took our United with the frontline campaign on the road to Party Conferences across the UK.
We know that three in four people who die by suicide aren’t in touch with mental health services in the year before they die. But many people are in touch with other frontline workers, especially the emergency services. Emergency services will often be the first on the scene to someone in crisis. However, Freedom of Information requests sent to all emergency services in England earlier this year revealed a very mixed picture in terms of what training they are given to attend someone in crisis.
That is why we took our campaign to Party Conferences to encourage MPs to use our toolkit and put pressure on Government to support our emergency services by introducing this training. It was clear the data was as shocking to them as it was to us and we were pleased to hear commitment from so many to support our efforts.
So, as we head into winter and we look back at the successes of our engagement, our efforts continue to turn the warm words from stakeholders into concrete actions. By doing so, we really can see fewer lives lost to suicide.
Elliot Colburn
Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager