Changing the narrative – working together to prevent suicide
On World Suicide Prevention Day, we share the message that suicide can be prevented. When friends, family members or colleagues are alert to signs that someone they know is in distress, there are steps they can take that could save a life.
Free suicide awareness training sessions for Lambeth
Wednesday 10 September, online – with the Jen Group
Anyone living, working, or volunteering in Lambeth can join a free training session that will give participants essential knowledge and skills on how to have a conversation that could save a person’s life. Run by the Jen Group, this online event takes place on World Suicide Prevention Day, Wednesday 10 September. This course is for those who want to understand more about suicide, how to know when someone may be having thoughts of suicide, how to talk directly and comfortably about suicide, and what to do to offer practical support.
The session starts at 1.30pm and lasts three hours. Sign up for Suicide Prevention | The Jen Group
In your own time, online – with Zero Suicide Alliance
The Zero Suicide Alliance has a short, free, online course that can be taken by anyone who wants to learn basic suicide awareness and prevention skills. The training takes around 30 minutes to complete.
Sign up for Zero Suicide Alliance’s Suicide Awareness Training.
The Zero Suicide Alliance is UK based and hosted by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Suicide prevention theatre performance
The Black Men’s Consortium is running a free community engagement event on World Suicide Prevention Day. This takes place on 10 September from 6pm to 8pm at Streatham Library, and will include trigger warnings.
Audience members will be invited to share elements of their personal stories of loss, grief, and care, and to celebrate loved ones. They will watch Black Men’s Consortium members perform those stories, using simple props like boxes and colourful scarves. This interactive process uses stories to foster connection, empathy, and community dialogue, allowing individuals to gain new perspectives on their experiences and feel a sense of shared humanity.
Suicide Prevention Theatre Performance Event – Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
World Suicide Prevention Day online conference and service of remembrance
South East London Suicide Bereavement Service partners are organising an online conference that will showcase important work in the field to remember those who have been lost to suicide. The conference will take place online on Wednesday 10 September, from 10am to 11.30am.
South East London Suicide Bereavement Service partners are: South East London Mind, Mind in Bexley and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
To attend, register on Eventbrite – you’ll get a Microsoft Teams link you can use to join on the day.
About World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day takes place annually on 10 September. It was established in 2003 in conjunction between The International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organisation. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming silence, stigma, and misunderstanding into openness, empathy, and support.
Find out more about World Suicide Prevention Day
Mental health crisis support
If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that you don’t have to struggle alone; there is help at hand.
Try and speak with a close family member or friend, as they might be able help you feel calmer and find some breathing space. If you can’t think of anyone, or would rather not talk to your loved ones, there are people and supportive services that will listen and help you through this time in your life.
24/7 Immediate help: People aged under 18 years
- Papyrus national helpline: a national helpline is for any young people under the age of 35.
Phone: 0800 068 4141
Text message: 07786 209 697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org - Kooth: a free online counselling and wellbeing platform for children and young people aged 10 to 25 years old.
Email: mjames@xenzone.com
Visit the Kooth website - Shout: free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis.
Text: Text YM to: 85258
24/7 Immediate help: People aged 18 years or over
- South London and Maudsley NHS Trust 24-hour mental health crisis line
Phone: 0800 731 2864 (Option 1) - Solidarity in a Crisis: A free, out-of-hours phone line for those in a crisis run by peer supporters with lived experience.
Phone: 0300 123 1922 - Samaritans: a free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if you want to talk to someone in confidence.
Phone: 116 123 - The Listening Place: provides free, face-to-face, ongoing support, by appointment, for those who feel that life is no longer worth living.
Phone: 020 3906 7676
Visit The Listening Place website. - James’s Place: offering free, life-saving therapy to men in suicidal crisis
- Visit James’ Place – Support for men who are suicidal
- Stay Alive app: an app packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. Visit the Stay Alive app website.
- If you don’t feel able to keep yourself safe right now, call 999 or go to A&E.
If you are concerned about someone
Trust your instincts and reach out if:
- you are concerned about someone
- you feel like something’s not quite right with someone
- what you see or hear seems worrying
- someone you know well seems different or preoccupied
- you’re concerned about a stranger that seems distressed
Even a small talk can be all it takes to interrupt somebody’s suicidal thoughts and save their life. We want to give as many people as possible the skills to notice if someone might be at risk and give them the confidence to approach them.