Tag Archives: world suicide prevention day

Suicide Prevention Awareness 2026: Remembering Unpaid Mental Health Carers

By Matthew McKenzie – Carer Activist

September is widely recognised as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with World Suicide Prevention Day taking place on 10 September.

Organised internationally by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and supported by the World Health Organization, the 2026 theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with the call to action “Start the Conversation.”

Organisations such as Samaritans, PAPYRUS, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and members of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance also work to raise awareness, challenge stigma and improve suicide prevention across the UK.

For this year’s campaign, I have produced a new awareness vlog focusing not only on people experiencing suicidal thoughts, but also on the unpaid mental health carers supporting them.

Relatives, partners and friends may spend long periods watching for warning signs, attending appointments and responding to crises. They can carry an enormous level of fear and responsibility, yet their own emotional needs are frequently overlooked.

Carers should never be expected to manage suicide risk alone. Professionals must listen to their concerns, involve them appropriately and ensure they can access support themselves.

In my new vlog, I discuss how we can challenge stigma, start compassionate conversations, listen without judgement and remember to check in with the person providing care as well as the person in crisis.

If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Samaritans can be contacted free, day or night, on 116 123. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

Together, we can move from silence to conversation, from stigma to compassion, and from carers coping alone to communities sharing responsibility.

World Suicide Prevention day 2024

Thanks for dropping by. Welcome to a blog post raising awareness of caring and caregiving. World Suicide Prevention day might have already finished by the time I posted this blog, but it is always helpful to continue raising awareness.

Many people around the world unfortunately take their lives due to suicide every day. This is a sad fact, but we also need to remember those who try their best to help support and care for those struggling with suicide.

It is also important to remember friends, families and communities affected by suicide. I have made this video to help raise awareness, which you can watch below.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2020

Welcome to another blog post by Matthew Mckenzie former carer and expert by experience in caring for someone with a severe mental illness. I know it is a bit late, but on the 10th of September 2020 it was World Suicide Prevention day.

Suicide Prevention is so important that awareness of it should be raised at any time. I even made a video to help raise awareness of suicide prevention.

Usually I raise awareness of carers, specifically carers who care for someone with a mental illness, but every so often I do want to raise awareness of mental health. The causes of suicides are an important issue because it certainly does involve mental health.

World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year. World Suicide Prevention Day aims to start the conversation about suicide and to show that recovery is possible.

There are many charities and organisations promoting world prevention suicide day. The theme for World Suicide Prevention day is of ‘connection’ and ‘Working Together to Prevent Suicide.’ The awareness campaign is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

With World Suicide Prevention day it is especially relevant because Covid-19 has affected us all in different ways and brought new or increased challenges. Many people have lost so much, be it homes, loved ones and that form of connection to society and to the world.

Having a strong sense of connection is an important part of suicide prevention. We all can form a connection with friends and family, as family is so important when caring for someone.

But still, Why is World Suicide Prevention day needed? Unfortunately 800,000 people take their own life each year. Despite the terrible statistics, one life taken is always a tragedy. There is still a lot of work for the government, health organisations and society to do. Families and carers looking after someone who may suffer from suicidal thoughts can be devastated when they loose someone to this.

Reaching out

It is often helpful for people to have an honest communication about mental ill-health support. Having such conversations have the power to increase awareness and helps to break the stigma of mental health . It is always important to remind people are not alone.

If suffering from suicide thoughts it is good to let family or trusted friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2019

businessman sittingWorld Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD),  runs on the 10 September and is set by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). where the World Health Organisation also sponsor the day. The theme for 2019 is called Working Together to Prevent Suicide.

The WHO and IASP also work with governments and other partners to ensure that suicide is no longer stigmatized, criminalized or penalized.

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World Suicide Prevention Day 2018

wspd_candleWelcome everyone, This blog post is about World Suicide Prevention day.

World Suicide Prevention Day is held each year on 10 September. It’s an annual awareness raising event organised by International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

World Suicide Prevention Day gives organizations, government agencies and individuals a chance to promote awareness about suicide, mental illnesses associated with suicide.

If you would like to see the video version of this blog post, please click on the video below.

This year the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Working Together to Prevent Suicide.”

Although it is difficult news to share, More than 800,000 people take their lives each year across the world. In the UK, more than 6,000 people die by suicide a year.

  • Feeling hopelessness and that there is no point
  • Consumed by negative thoughts
  • Feeling unwanted by others
  • Thinking or feeling that you have no other choice
  • Assuming everyone would be better off without you

Suicide or those suffering from illnesses that can lead to suicide can affect more than the victim or person themselves. A death of a loved one can affect the family, friend or their carer. Unpaid carers can play an important role in providing support for someone suffering suicide thoughts.

What to do if you are suffering from suicide thoughts

  • Speak to some close you can trust.
  • Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123.
  • Contact your GP.
  • Call NHS 111 (England).
  • Contact your local crisis team.

What can you or others do to help raise awareness?

  • Raise awareness that suicide is preventable.
  • Improve education about suicide.
  • Spread information about suicide awareness.
  • Decrease stigmatization regarding suicide.

 

World Suicide Prevention Day 2017

light_a_candle_on_wspd_animation6X4

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by, this blog is helping to raise awareness for Suicide prevention day, which occurs every year on the 10th of September.

The day an annual awareness raising event organised by International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The theme for 2017 is ‘Take a minute, change a life.’

To see the video I made for the awareness event please click below.

Over in the UK there are many organisations and charities are promoting this special awareness day from Mind to Samaritans, Rethink and also SANE.

Suicide is a cause of premature death which is influenced by psycho-social, cultural and environmental risk factors that can be prevented through worldwide responses that address these main risk factors.

More than 800,000 people take their lives each year across the world. In the UK and Ireland, more than 6,000 people die by suicide a year – an average of 18 a day. in the UK biggest killer in men under age of 45.

What can you do to help someone who may be in need? Start a conversation today if you think a friend, colleague or family member may be struggling. There are also other ways you or others can help spread awareness of suicide prevention. Try and ask your government to launch initiatives to prevent suicide. Attend or speak at Conferences, open days, educational seminars or public lectures about suicide prevent. Educate yourself by watching Media programs promoting suicide awareness and prevention.

Showing compassion and empathy can help a person to turn things around and point them towards recovery.

World suicide prevention day 2016

World Globe Maps

Welcome to another one of my blog posts. This blog post is helping to raise awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day. I am not going to pull any punches, suicide can be one of the most devastating things to happen to anyone, not just the person taking the action, but also their families, especially those who are trying to care for something going through mental torment or mental health issues.

World Suicide Prevention Day happens on the 10th of September every year. It is championed by The International Association for Suicide Prevention of (IASP) and also the World Health Organization otherwise known as (WHO). IASP helps to raise awareness on the following.

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My post for World Suicide Prevention day 2015

matthew mckenzieSorry I have not blogged for a while since as with many mental health carers, I am currently caring in crisis. It can be so difficult, but when a loved one has to be placed in a mental health unit, then other things need to be placed on hold.

As of this blog post, I am one of those mental health carers trying to keep things stable while recovery for my loved one is vital.

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