World Suicide Prevention Day 2016: It Can't Rain Forever

Saturday, September 10, 2016


If you yourself aren't feeling too good, or the mention of suicide unsettles you, please take care when reading. Help and support listed at the bottom of this page.

Today is September 10th 2016. A normal Saturday for the majority. However, today is also World Suicide Prevention Day. 

And we need to talk about it. 

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50. Students nowadays have the same stress and anxiety levels as patients in asylums in the 1950's. The waiting time to access mental health care in the UK can be months, however some adolescents can be on waiting lists for up to a year. And most shockingly of all, it's still a subject that people are scared to talk about. 

In 2014, a total of 6,122 suicides* of people aged 10 and over were registered in the UK, despite this being 120 fewer than in 2013, it's still a huge number of people who could have been prevented from being taken away from their families, friends and loved ones. 

All these facts and figures may seem daunting, but it's the truth and it doesn't take an expert to see that there's a genuine problem here. Whether it's down to politics, the NHS or people being increasingly scared of showing any emotion, it doesn't matter because something needs to change. As individual members of society, we can't make everyone better overnight, but we can work together, taking small steps to help those around us, which will eventually spread and lead to more people talking openly about whatever is troubling them, and ultimately preventing suicide. 

Suicide is (as cliche as it may sound) a last resort for many. When someone is feeling this way, it can linger for days, weeks, months, even years. It can control every aspect of their life, or it can be a thought at the back of their mind that never seems to go away. The fear of how their families will cope inevitably crosses their mind, tortures them even, so they're not selfish or cowardly as some people may think. But then you have the problem itself, the feelings of not wanting to exist, just wanting to disappear. It's evil and it conflicts the way they want to protect their family from ever finding out what it's like to live without them. It's tunnel vision and it's relentless. It's cruel and something never to be wished on anyone. 

It can be prevented. 

It can't rain forever, and no matter how bad it might get, things will get gradually easier. Whether you just need a chat or if medication is the answer, there's help and support out there, regardless of whether you've felt this way for months, or if you've just had a crap week and want someone to talk to. 


Waiting until you're at the very end of your tether is dangerous for yourself and those around you, understandably this might not always be preventable as mental illness is cruel and may force you to isolate yourself and push people away, but if you or a family member can recognised the signs and symptoms of suicidal person, or realise you're not quite your usual self, speaking out can really help. 

That's what Suicide Prevention Day is about. The lead up to suicide can be gradual or it can be almost instant, so if people start to talk about it, this could prevent it from becoming the last resort for thousands more people. Help can be put in place so if you are or ever do find yourself feeling this way, whether it's the first time or a relapse, you're not alone. 


There are chat-rooms, helplines, forums and support groups - to name a few. If you want that face-to-face interaction, you can have it. If you would rather just have a reassuring voice at the end of the phone, you can have it. If you're not up to talking, and would rather type the way you're feeling, that's available too. No matter how helpless you're feeling there is something. 

"Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better.” 

If you or someone you know needs help and/or support, there are many ways you can get help.

  • Visit your GP.
  • If you're still in education, talk to a teacher, school counsellor or safeguarding team.
  • If you're employed, talk to your boss, head of department or a trusted colleague. 
  • Talk to a family member, it's good to get it off your chest.
  • Call 999 or 101 and speak to an operator.
  • Go to your nearest A&E if you feel you are a serious danger to yourself.


Useful websites:

  • Samaritans. Similar to Mind, also offering help and information.
  • Childline. If you are under 18 you can call their helpline for support, or you can speak to a counsellor online. 
  • Suicide.org. List of suicide hotlines for around the world.
  • Young Minds. Mental health charity specifically for teenagers and young people. 
  • Project Toe. A suicide/self harm prevention app, where you can talk to someone (not a professional) to get it all off your chest. You can also help others with how they're feeling. 
  • ImAlive. An online service where you can talk to someone if you are feeling suicidal or down, the same as a helpline but without the 'speaking' element. 
  • Once Upon A SmileBereavement charity for children who have lost a parent, sibling or close family member, and for parents who have lost a child. 



*Figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS)

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