When Samaritans launched its new 10-year strategy, ‘Preventing suicide together’ last month, we set out our ambition that the national suicide rate reaches its lowest ever levels.
This week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest data on suicides in England and Wales, which are a stark reminder that we still have a very long way to go. Tragically, suicide rates haven't fallen in over twenty years.
As a charity that’s a lifeline to people in crisis, Samaritans answers a call for help every 10 seconds. And over the next few years we’ll be making important changes so we can answer more calls, more quickly, from those struggling with suicidal thoughts. Our aim is that no one in crisis has to wait more than five minutes to get the support they need. Answering calls for help too late is not an option.
But we cannot achieve our ambition to drastically reduce suicide rates alone – everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention. We train organisations and equip individuals to recognise the signs of someone who might be struggling, empowering them to have open and supportive conversations that can help an individual on their path to recovery.
And we combine evidence with lived experience to influence decision makers to tackle the underlying causes of suicide and implement change at a national level to reach people before it’s too late.
“Tragically, 75% of suicides are by men, and middle-aged men continue to have the highest suicide rate on record, a trend that has persisted for decades. For too long, men have struggled without the right support, and we are missing opportunities to reach them at critical moments in their lives.”
Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans
Prioritising suicide prevention in The Men’s Health Strategy
The latest ONS data shows that the Government is currently failing to deliver on its own promise to reduce suicide rates – a commitment made in the 2024 Labour Party Manifesto. Our Prime Minister cannot ignore his responsibility to prioritise suicide prevention.
The data shows that men remain three times more likely to die by suicide than women. That’s why having suicide prevention at the heart of the Men's Health Strategy and upcoming Mental Health Strategy is vital if we want to reach the lowest suicide rates ever recorded in the next 10 years.
Men have said they’re often told “to talk”, but when they do, they describe stigma, shame and feeling rushed or unheard. We need to see gender-informed care and a wider range of support that reaches men from all walks of life, not just one stereotype of a ‘man’. Informal services in community settings are a proven way for men to connect and share experiences with others that can help them feel less alone and supported.
One example is Together Against Suicide, The Premier League’s campaign in partnership with Samaritans. It’s an initiative which encourages football fans to talk about mental health and suicidal thoughts at football matches, sparking conversations that could make all the difference. Working alongside Samaritans and other partners, the League has supported more than 3,000 Premier League and club staff, as well as fans, with training around suicide prevention.
But while these types of initiatives are rewarding, they aren’t a replacement for clinical support. Men also need to be able to access statutory crisis and mental health services whenever they need them.
Men struggling with suicidality often believe they have a ‘life’ problem that they try to fix, like debt, gambling, employment, relationship breakdown and loneliness, family issues or alcohol and substance abuse, rather than recognising they need help for their mental health.
And while two thirds of people who take their own life weren’t in touch with mental health services, 91% of men were in touch with some form of statutory service in the year before they took their own life. They are presenting in the system but get overlooked. We must upskill all services to recognise vulnerability and know how to signpost to mental health or crisis support so men don’t fall through the cracks.
The Men’s Health Strategy seeks to address that balance through the £3.6 million investment in neighbourhood-based suicide prevention support. It is crucial that this is delivered through formal co-production with the VCSE sector and men with lived experience, with a clear and measurable focus on reducing male suicide.
Successful models should be sustained and scaled nationally, rather than left as isolated pilots. It’s vital that men are able to receive the support they need, when they need it, wherever they happen to live.
Let’s prevent suicide today, because tomorrow’s too late
Every suicide is a devastating loss felt by families, friends and communities, affecting an estimated 135 people. We know suicide can be prevented and today's data acts as a stark reminder that complacency is not an option, as lives depend on it.
We can stop people from reaching crisis point by intervening even earlier and addressing the underlying factors, like isolation and financial insecurity, that contribute to suicide. That’s why reducing suicide rates requires the government to take action. Our Prime Minister must step up and prioritise suicide prevention today, because tomorrow’s too late.