More than one in three people surveyed (34%) across Greater London say they or a family member have been affected by suicide, according to a new survey by SOS Silence of Suicide. The charity says the numbers underline the urgent need for everyday suicide prevention skills in communities throughout the region.
Across the UK, Northern Ireland reports the highest impact at 39%, followed by Wales (33%), England (30%) and Scotland (29%).
The results also revealed a generational divide, with young adults particularly vulnerable. UK-wide findings show almost half (46%) of 18–24-year-olds surveyed said suicide has touched their lives, double the rate of those aged 55 and over (23%).
To tackle this silent crisis head-on, SOS is today urging people across Greater London to take its new free mental health training course – OPEN Conversations – designed to give everyone the tools to help prevent suicide.
This training is only one part of the charity’s mission. With suicide rates still rising despite years of support and campaigning, SOS says prevention must begin in the everyday moments where someone might first show they’re struggling. By encouraging people to recognise that we all share responsibility for looking out for one another, the charity wants to ensure help reaches people long before they reach a crisis point.
OPEN Conversations teaches individuals to notice the signs someone may be overwhelmed, to respond with confidence rather than fear, and to provide vital support. And crucially, no prior expertise is required.
Lorna Hackett, Trustee at SOS Silence of Suicide, commented:
“These figures are heartbreaking. It shows us that for too many people in Greater London, suicide is not a distant tragedy but a devastating reality. Too many lives are being lost too soon.
“SOS has been fighting the silence and stigma of speaking about suicide for 10 years, and we are now saying clearly that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. We must rethink how we respond. We want to change the narrative so that checking in, caring and noticing the signs become everyday actions, not specialist skills.”
Lorna continued:
“You don’t need to be a mental health professional to save a life. Sometimes, all it takes is being willing to have an uncomfortable conversation, to ask the difficult questions and to listen without judgement. OPEN Conversations enables people to do exactly that.
“This course can be completed in a lunch break – it only takes up to one hour – and will give you the confidence that could interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and change their trajectory forever. The silence is quite literally killing us; conversation is the medicine.”
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, SOS has spent a decade challenging stigma and supporting those in crisis. Its new training offers practical guidance for friends, colleagues, neighbours and family members. The OPEN Conversations course is free and available to complete now via SOS’s website: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/.
