Campaigns Launched Around World Suicide Prevent Day

Aiming to raise awareness about local mental health support

Be Their One highlights that it only takes one person to save a life

September 9, 2024

World Suicide Prevention Day is taking place this Tuesday (10 September) and a number of campaigns are taking place locally to raise awareness of local mental health support.

Hounslow Council’s campaign, Be Their One, is in partnership with Hillingdon Borough. They have teamed up to encourage people to take the newly-updated Zero Suicide Alliance training.

These are resources people can use to learn how to speak to people who are in crisis and say they plan to kill themselves. The campaign is called Be Their One because it only takes one person to save a life.

By taking the Zero Suicide Alliance training and familiarising themselves with crisis mental health services local to them, people can give themselves the best chance of saving someone’s life if they find themselves in a situation where someone tells them they intend to seriously harm or kill themselves. It only takes around half an hour to complete, is recommended for anyone 16 and above, and includes scenarios and advice on how anyone can have a life-saving conversation.

In the borough of Hounslow there were 14 cases where people were suspected to have died by suicide between 31 August 2023 and 1 September 2024. Of those cases, it was later revealed that five of those who died had told at least one person of their intention to kill themselves before they passed away.

Data published in August 2024 show that England and Wales are facing the highest suicide rate since 1999, with the highest rates among men aged 45-49.

This is also reflected in the statistics for the borough, with a much higher rate amongst local men than women.

Local public health experts explain that this could be because men often find it the hardest to talk to others about their feelings.

Catherine, who lost her brother to suicide recently, said, “My brother John had a lovely smile and big blue eyes, made everyone happy and we would always have a laugh together. He had such a presence about him and was a real character; full of love. I miss him so much.

“As the cliché goes, ‘he was the last person in the world that you would think of to die from suicide’. We never suspected a thing and it came as a huge shock when we learnt that he lost his life through suicide.

“It’s vital that people take training to understand how to talk to people who are suicidal. Just like we are trained in using defibrillators and how to save people’s lives when they are having a heart attack, it is equally as important to be able to deal with suicidal ideation.

“The Zero Suicide Alliance training gives people the tools to know what to do if and when a situation arises. The scenarios in the training show how to discuss concerns with a colleague at work or a family member. Knowing what to do in different situations really helps.

“Being able to talk openly about how people are feeling is an important starting point and the Zero Suicide Alliance training provides that.”

Councillor Lily Bath, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Transformation, said, “Every suicide is a tragedy, so we are determined to take any action that can help save people who feel suicidal. It’s great to be working with our neighbours in Hillingdon to help people across both boroughs to feel supported.

“I’d encourage everyone to take a little time out of their day to take the Zero Suicide Alliance training and generally familiarise themselves with the crisis lines available, both locally and nationally.”

In Hammersmith & Fulham, Chiswick-based hospitality company Fuller’s has partnered with the council to run an ad campaign in eleven of its pubs.

The new adverts will include QR codes to direct users to local charities such as The Listening Place, Andy’s Man Club and the Mental Health Single Point of Access.

The pubs participating are:

The Andover Arms, Hammersmith
The Blue Boat, Fulham Reach
The Cross Keys, Hammersmith
The Crown and Sceptre, Shepherds Bush
The Distillers, Hammersmith
The Dove, Hammersmith
The Hand & Flower, Hammersmith
Latymers, Hammersmith
The Queens Head, Brook Green
The Salutation, Hammersmith
The Stonemasons Arms, Hammersmith

Fuller’s team members will also be offered specialist training through the Zero Suicide Alliance equipping them with the skills to spot the signs of someone struggling. And give them the confidence to strike up a potentially life-saving conversation.

Monique Samra, People Experience Manager at Fuller’s, added, "Our pubs and hotels are more than just places to eat and drink – they’re places where the community comes together. We’re proud to be part of this life-saving initiative, and we believe that by giving our team the tools to recognise and respond to someone in crisis, we can help make a difference.”