World Suicide Prevention Day 2023
World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on Sunday 10 September, spreading the message globally that suicide can be prevented.
World Suicide Prevention Day takes place this Sunday, 10 September 2023. The awareness day has now been established 20 years, set up in partnership by the World Health Organisation and International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the aim of spreading the message through organisations around the world that suicide can be prevented.
The theme for 2023 is 'creating hope through action' and the IASP has suggested several ways for you and your organisation to get involved:
- ‘Cycle around the globe’ - from 10 September to 10 October the campaign will host a free virtual cycling event, encouraging participants to cycle any distance on any road, track or gym with the aim of working together to help prevent suicide.
- Organising your own event to raise awareness of suicide prevention, with a range of suggested activities for organisations to run.
- Lighting a candle at 8pm on 10 September to acknowledge your support for suicide prevention.
- Using the official hashtags on social media - #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #CreatingHopeThroughAction #WSPD #WSPD2023 #BeTheLight
Resources to help you:
- Our suicide prevention and postvention web page offers a range of information on the impact of suicide and how employers can support staff through preventative and postventative measures.
- The NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network has worked with the Samaritans to produce a comprehensive postvention toolkit to help NHS organisations develop processes to manage the impact of employee suicide on colleagues.
- A nationwide study by the University of Surrey (funded by the National Institute for Health Research) aimed to understand the impact of colleague suicide on NHS staff and learn more about their support needs to help inform its recently published postvention guidance.
Study participants also shared their stories in After Them, a short film depicting the challenges and emotional toll they experienced. - The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and the Office of the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer have developed publications aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of the ambulance workforce and preventing suicide in this service.
- Our case study, Empowering staff to assess suicide risk in colleagues, shows how University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group supported staff who were at serious risk of suicide.
