World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

Every year on September 10th, we observe World Suicide Prevention Day—a global initiative led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It’s a day to reflect, raise awareness, and take meaningful action to prevent suicide and support mental health.

Suicide is a deeply complex and tragic issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s estimated that more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year, and for every suicide, there are many more who attempt it or experience suicidal thoughts. These numbers represent real people—friends, family members, colleagues—whose lives matter.

This year’s theme, “Creating Hope Through Action,” is a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play. Whether it’s through a kind word, a listening ear, or simply being present, small actions can make a big difference. Hope can be found in connection, compassion, and community.

How You Can Make a Difference

You don’t need to be a mental health professional to help someone in crisis. Here are a few simple but impactful ways to support suicide prevention:

Start a conversation: Ask how someone is doing and really listen. You don’t need to have all the answers just being there matters.

Share resources: Make sure people know where to find help, whether it’s through your workplace’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), local mental health services, or national helplines.

Educate yourself: Learn the warning signs of suicide and how to respond. Awareness can save lives.

Promote a supportive culture: Encourage openness around mental health in your team or organisation. Reducing stigma starts with normalising the conversation.

St Martin’s:

At St Martin’s we do our best to promote a psychologically safe environment where people feel able to speak up, feel valued, heard, and supported. This means that when resident have concerns they are able to speak to staff and this supports them to reduce stress and isolation. Due to our line of work, all staff are trained in mental health, which will help identify any warning signs, patterns, or triggers in residents.

We believe in raising concerns early so that the person can get the best support to minimise the risk of deterioration. For staff they are supported by competent managers who are trained to support them through supervisions. We also have reflective space where people are able to raise concerns in a safe space.

At St Martin’s we also offer flexible working, to help with work-life balance. We run regular check ins with staff at services through supervisions, handovers and team meetings.