World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) – a time for reflection, compassion and understanding

Earlier this week, one of Forward’s supporters, Deb Casserly, spoke to The Times (article has paywall) about her son Barney. For years before his death in 2018, Barney had been struggling with addiction, before taking his own life at the age of 21. 

Sadly, self-harm rates are at a historic high in prisons, and self-harm and suicide attempts are the strongest predictors of future suicide risk. People with histories of trauma, homelessness, substance misuse and those who have been in care are also at increased risk of suicide or self-harm. 

There is also a long established link between gambling and suicide. Academic papers have reported the link between gambling disorder and suicide from as long ago as 1935. Since then numerous studies across the world have investigated the link between gambling and suicidal ideation, attempted suicides and completed suicides. 

Awareness 

Yesterday we had the privilege of being joined by Andy, Tim and Mike who all lost their daughters, Sophie (29), Emily (19) and Beth (17) to suicide. Through chance, and their surviving children, they met and became ‘3 Dads Walking’. 

It was only after they lost their daughters to suicide that they found out that suicide was the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK – they wanted to fight back. In 2021 they walked between their 3 homes in Cumbria, Manchester and Norfolk, raising money for and awareness of the charity, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. After this first walk, and meeting hundreds of suicide-bereaved parents, they became accidental campaigners for suicide prevention.  

Their journey has seen them gain overwhelming support from across the UK through a Parliamentary Petition, gaining over 160,000 signatures and resulting in a debate in Westminster; engage with Government and the Opposition at the highest levels; and work with the Department for Education on having suicide prevention as a compulsory part of the RHSE curriculum. Their fundraising for PAPYRUS has reached over £1.4M and they were honoured to be awarded MBEs in the recent King’s Birthday Honours List. 

We’d like to say a huge thanks to Deb, Mike, Andy and Tim for sharing their stories.

Support 

Reach Out is a confidential online chat service supporting you with worries or concerns about alcohol, drugs or gambling, and also related issues including housing, mental health and employment. 

However you’re feeling right now, you’re not alone: help is out there. 

Samaritans

If you’re struggling with your mental health and need someone to talk to urgently, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123

PAPYRUS  

Prevention of Young Suicide is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people; HOPELINE 247 is a 24hour helpline- 0800 068 41 41