Thursday 10th September marks World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to help reduce the stigma, raise awareness and start meaningful conversations. More than 720,000 people die worldwide by suicide every year, and many more people attempt it.
Behind every statistic is a person, a story, and a community whose lives are changed forever. Understanding the patterns, risks and support systems available is essential to prevention.
National Statistics
Across the UK, suicide remains a deeply gendered issue.
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50, with men accounting for 75% of suicides in the UK.
Women’s suicide follows a different age pattern, with a gradual increase through adulthood, typically in the 50-54 age range.
These trends are not evenly distributed. People living in more deprived areas face higher risk, reflecting the complex relationship between mental health, socioeconomic factors, and access to help.
South London Context
London has the lowest regional suicide rate in England, at 7.0 deaths per 100,000 people. However, the overall figure masks important differences between boroughs in South London, where some areas’ rates are higher than London’s average.
Between 2021-2023 Greenwich reported 7.7 deaths per 100,000 people, slightly above London’s average. Southwark reported 9.5 deaths per 100,000 people, requiring “immediate action needed”.
These high rates coincide with both areas’ respective 2019 Local Authority deprivation scores, 24.5 in Greenwich and 25.8 in Southwark, indicating that residents in these boroughs are more likely to experience higher levels of deprivation compared with those living in other local authorities.
The impact of deprivation is also reflected in frontline experience. A 2023 Samaritans survey found that 97% of volunteers had supported callers worried about paying essential bills. 74% reported speaking to people who had cut back on things vital to their wellbeing, and 69% had spoken to callers who reached out because they could not afford access to other forms of support.
These figures highlight how financial strain has a significant impact on mental health and the need for more support from the government, especially in areas facing socioeconomic disadvantages.
Warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide
According to Mental Health UK, shifts in behaviour and personality might be a sign a person is having suicidal thoughts.
Changes can include: being more irritable, being more anxious, being more confrontational, being quiet, having mood swings, sleeping too much or too little, avoiding contact with loved ones, having problems with work/studies, saying negative things about themselves.
There are some indicators that suggest someone is more likely to attempt suicide. These include:
- Threatening to hurt or kill themselves
- Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
- Thanking you, or saying sorry to you for no apparent reason
- Preparing to end their life, such as storing up medication
- Putting affairs in order such as giving away belongings or making a will
Recognising these signs are important to helping someone who may be struggling.
Bereavement support
People bereaved by suicide often face complex emotions, and organisations such as Mind UK note that feelings of guilt, shame and isolation are common. In South London, specialist support is available through the South East London Suicide Bereavement Service, which has supported more than 700 people across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark since launching five years ago.
Dave, who lost his brother in 2012 and his granddaughter in 2023, said the service helped him realise he didn’t have to carry his grief alone.
“They don’t give you the answer because there isn’t one,” he said.
He also joined Walk and Talk groups in parks across South East London, meeting others with similar experiences.
“You realise very quickly that you are not the only person carrying this pain,”
he said.
“You can convince yourself that you can carry all the weight alone, but eventually something will break unless you get support.”
South London support
Services across South London offer emotional support, practical guidance and safe spaces to connect with others who understand the complexity of suicide loss.
Organisations that offer support include:
- South East London Mind
- South London and Maudsley NHS Trust
- Mind in Bexley
- Community Discovery & Recovery Services for Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston & Richmond
- South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
On Thursday 10th September South East London Mind will be hosting their annual conference and service for remembrance to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. No one has to face these experiences alone, and help is always within reach.
If you have been affected by the content of the article, residents can contact the Samaritans at 116 123. Alternatively, you can contact Shout, a 24/7 text messaging service , by texting the word “Shout” to 85258ch
