Suffolk Mind urges public to ask difficult questions in new suicide prevention campaign
Suffolk Mind says evidence showse conversations can help.
Suffolk Mind is encouraging people to have “courageous and uncomfortable” conversations about suicide as part of a new campaign launched during Mental Health Awareness Week.
The charity has released a short film centred around voice notes between friends, aiming to encourage communities to check in on people who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.
The film can be found here.
Community focus
Unlike previous campaigns which have focused heavily on encouraging people to “open up”, Suffolk Mind says this initiative shifts the focus onto the wider community and the responsibility others may have in recognising when someone needs help.
Ezra Hewing, Suffolk Mind’s Head of Education, said: “We wanted to take the pressure and the focus away from the person who is experiencing thoughts of suicide and isolation and shine a light on the community as a whole.”
The campaign comes as charities and health organisations continue to report growing demand for mental health support services.
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death across generations, with men accounting for around three-quarters of suicides nationally.
Mr Hewing said many people are still frightened of directly asking somebody whether they are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
But he stressed that evidence shows having those conversations does not increase the risk of suicide.
“What the evidence shows is that you do not increase the risk of suicide by asking about it,” he said.
“There’s no danger that you’re putting the idea in somebody’s head.”
Having the conversation
The charity is encouraging people to check in on friends, family members and colleagues who may be going through difficult periods in their lives, including relationship breakdowns, bereavement, financial stress or isolation.
Mr Hewing said asking direct questions about suicide can feel uncomfortable, but may also provide an opportunity to connect somebody with support before a crisis escalates.
“If you know that somebody is going through some of the sorts of issues that you see in the film, then to do something which is very courageous and perhaps a bit uncomfortable and to say, ‘look, have you had thoughts of suicide at all?’” he said.
“They might laugh at you or dismiss it or brush it off.
“But they might also say, ‘do you know what? Yeah.’”
He added: “Then that’s an opportunity for us to say, ‘well, can we make sure that you get the right support then?’ and potentially prevent a tragedy.”
Help available
As part of the campaign, Suffolk Mind is also encouraging organisations and members of the public to access training around suicide prevention and difficult conversations.
The charity runs workshops designed to help people feel more confident in supporting someone in crisis.
“We run a one-day workshop called Understanding Suicide Prevention, where we practise those sorts of skills,” Mr Hewing said.
“There are other organisations that provide similar training and the Samaritans have lots of resources as well.”
Suffolk Mind says the campaign is intended to make suicide prevention a “shared community responsibility” rather than placing the burden solely on people experiencing mental ill health.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through Samaritans on 116 123 or by contacting NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.