Suicide awareness

For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. To access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts - Samaritans freephone 116 123 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org

Download our Sources of Support PDF for a list of support available across the UK.

SEE THE PROBLEM - SAY THE WORDS - SIGNPOST TO SUPPORT

We need to talk about suicide. Every day, our specialist teams support veterans and families to stand strong once again. But for many, the journey before they take the first step towards accessing that support can take weeks, months or even years.

We believe having a conversation can be lifesaving. When someone opens up, it’s important that they feel safe and listened to. We want to help create suicide safer communities, where veterans and families feel they can speak up as soon as they start to struggle.

TAKE THE COURSE

Help for Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance - Rob's Story

Help for Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance - Rob's Story

Alongside the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) we have developed a ground-breaking veteran-specific suicide awareness training course.

This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to have a potentially life-saving conversation with a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger in the street.

Scenarios, real life stories and resources will help guide you through what to do, should the situation arise.

TAKE THE COURSE

Hopefully you will never need to have this conversation, but if you did…would you know what to say?

Please take 30 minutes to learn how to have that difficult conversation and potentially save a life.

TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE

This video offers an excellent example of how to start the conversation about suicide if you are concerned about someone.

Produced for The Lions Barber Collective by NHS Informatics Merseyside (part of Mersey Care NHSFT), the 10-minute video features a barber called Luke talking to Adam, an army veteran.

Adam has just left service and is struggling to settle into civilian life, away from his old job and friends; he feels like a burden to his family and is planning to end his life.

Watch how Luke starts the conversation, encourages Adam to open up about his worries, and ensures he is safe before letting him leave the barbershop.

Please be aware, this video involves conversation about suicide. If you are a suicide survivor or have been bereaved by suicide, this may be a difficult watch. Please take care and make sure you have someone supportive nearby.

Help for Heroes and The Lions Barber Collective - Suicide Awareness Video

Help for Heroes and The Lions Barber Collective - Suicide Awareness Video
  • Suicide Awareness Course FAQs

    • The Facts

      Worldwide over 700,000 people a year take their own life (Source: WHO, 2021)

      Approximately 6000 people take their own life in the UK each year (Source: Office for National Statistics. 2019)

      285 serving UK Armed Forces personnel took their own life between 2002-2021 (Source: MOD Statistical Notice, 2022)

      Veteran suicide is not currently recorded by the UK Government but will be from 2022, with the first report due in 2023.

      The government is also conducting a 10 year look back to examine veteran deaths through suicide. This research will be published in 2022. (Source: Veteran suicide figures to be recorded for the first time - GOV.UK)

      • As part of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s ‘One is Too Many’ programme we have received funding which has enabled us to develop this bespoke training course with the aim of creating suicide safer communities for veterans.

        We also offer a range of specialist and tailored recovery services that enable veterans and families to live secure and healthy lives with purpose. This includes one-to-one mental, clinical and physical health support, our Recovery College and a range of sports and wellbeing activities.

      • We encourage everyone to take this training as you never know when you might need it.

        If you are a suicide survivor or have been bereaved by suicide, you may find elements of the training difficult. Please take care and make sure you have someone supportive nearby.

      • Increase your skills and knowledge, in a similar way to mental health first aid training

        Learn to recognise the indicators of suicidal behaviours

        Learn how to have that difficult conversation should the need arise

        Know where to signpost to for help and support

        Potentially save the life of a loved one, friend, colleague or even a stranger.

        • For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. To access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts - Samaritans freephone 116 123 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org

          Download our Sources of Support PDF for a list of support available across the UK.

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