Suicide prevention remains a universal challenge. Every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for people of all ages. It is responsible for over 800,000 deaths, which equates to one suicide every 40 seconds.
Every life lost represents someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague. For each suicide approximately 135 people suffer intense grief or are otherwise affected. This amounts to 108 million people per year who are profoundly impacted by suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviour includes suicide, and also encompases suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. For every suicide, 25 people make a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide.
Suicide is the result of a convergence of genetic, psychological, social and cultural and other risk factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss. People who take their own lives represent a heterogeneous group, with unique, complex and multifaceted causal influences preceding their final act. Such heterogeneity presents challenges for suicide prevention experts. These challenges can be overcome by adopting a multilevel and cohesive approach to suicide prevention.
Preventing suicide is often possible and you are a key player in its prevention! You can make a difference – as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbour. There are many things that you can do daily, and also on World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), to prevent suicidal behaviour. You can raise awareness about the issue, educate yourself and others about the causes of suicide and warning signs for suicide, show compassion and care for those who are in distress in your community, question the stigma associated with suicide, suicidal behaviour and mental health problems and share your own experiences.
Both Louise Collins and Andrew Price of Lighthouse Safety are Guardians for Building Mental Health and as part of our Lighthouse15k Campaign we are raising money for The Lighthouse Club which produces many resources including a Helpline Pack with posters and Helpline cards to ensure your workforce know where to turn for support when they need it and a free helpline app, full of information, advice and guidance on topics including stress, anxiety, depression, anger and suicidal thoughts.
Mental Health is getting more coverage now and its being recognised as something that is prevalent in the world. We are striving to educate more on mental health, and how it can be helped. We offer two Mental Health First Aid England courses including:
Our two day course qualifies employees as Mental Health First Aiders.
Students will gain:
Our half day course is an introductory four hour session to raise awareness of mental health.
Candidates will gain:
Accreditations & Certifications
Membership
