Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day.

A difficult subject, but one that is important for all of us to talk about.

Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland loses their life to suicide, while around 1 in 4 people have experienced suicidal thoughts. By understanding the warning signs and knowing how to reach out, we can all play a part in helping someone through a moment of crisis.

The statistics

• Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 50.
• Young women under 24 have experienced the largest increase in suicide rates since records began.
• Around 125 people die by suicide in the UK every week — equivalent to approximately 18 people each day.
• There are around 100,000 suicide attempts in the UK each year.

What are suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts can take many forms. They may involve thinking about ending your life, feeling that other people would be better off without you, or believing that there is no way forward.

For some people, these thoughts can also involve considering ways to take their own life or making plans to do so.

Warning signs to look out for

Someone who is struggling may show changes in the way they think, behave or interact with others. Signs can include:

• Talking about wanting to die, end their life, or feeling hopeless or as though they have no reason to live.
• Expressing feelings of loneliness, isolation, hopelessness or low self-esteem, or repeatedly focusing on their problems.
• Becoming withdrawn from colleagues, friends or family, or experiencing a decline in their work performance and difficulty completing everyday tasks.
• Changes in behaviour, including increased restlessness, irritability, impulsiveness, recklessness or aggression.
• Talking about putting their personal affairs in order, such as making a will, or discussing specific plans to end their life.
• Increased use or misuse of alcohol or other substances.
• Showing signs of depression or talking about previous suicidal thoughts or behaviour.

How can you help?

A simple action or conversation could make a real difference to someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. You don’t need to be a mental health professional or an expert to offer support.

An interruption can be as simple as speaking to someone face-to-face, giving them a call, sending a message or finding another way to connect with them when they are struggling.

Be kind. Ask open questions. Most importantly, listen without judgement.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone directly if they are having suicidal thoughts. Asking the question can give them the opportunity and permission to be honest about how they are feeling.

For more guidance on how you can support someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, visit the Samaritans’ guide:

How to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts | Samaritans

If you want to discuss any of the information above please reach out. Please refer to our MIMHC resources page for further help.

*Sources include: MIND, CIPD, Samaritans & Mental Health Foundation

Become a Signatory of the MIMHC:

The MIMHC is geared towards helping companies in the Mortgage industry to provide mental health support to their staff. This very important issue within the sector requires that firms look to improve provisions for their people and signing up to the Charter is a great way to start!