Suicide – Reasons to Live

Suicide Prevention Booklet

Suicide – Reasons to Live to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day - 10th September 2021.

Declan interviewed people from the UK and Ireland for the booklet, including bereaved family members who had lost someone to suicide, survivors of suicide attempts and people who had experienced strong suicidal ideation at some point in their lives.

Suicide remains a very taboo and contentious topic and despite initiatives to encourage people to talk more openly about emotions and feelings, statistics continue to rise annually.

• Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide each year around the world. That is roughly 1 death every 40 seconds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the world for people aged 15–24 years.

• Almost 7,000 people across the UK and Ireland die by suicide each year. This equates to a daily average of 19 people.

• Tens of thousands attempt suicide, and it is estimated that more than 1 in 20 people will try at some point in their lives.

• Three-quarters of suicides are by men. According to the Samaritans, the highest rate of suicide is in men aged 45–49 and it is the biggest killer in men under 35.

Investment in resources such as counselling and other talking therapies is still too low to accommodate the high number of people seeking help. Anti-depressant prescriptions have doubled in the last ten years despite research proving a link between them and suicidal ideation. The mental health system is in a state of disarray with patients often left feeling they are brushed aside and not properly treated. The fallout of Covid-19 and the impact that lockdowns and restrictions have had on people’s mental wellbeing is still to be calculated. The simple fact is that until suicide is recognised as a public health priority and given the same recognition and resources as other public health problems, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, the numbers will sadly continue to rise.

Declan’s booklet includes a wide range of anti-suicide strategies which explores ways to help reduce the number of suicides happening each year.

You can read and download Declan’s booklet, free of charge, from his website at: www.declanhenry.co.uk (Available from 10th September 2021 to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day).

FREE Suicide Prevention Booklet
Subscribe and Join my mailing list to receive the latest news on publication releases. PLUS you will be able to download the FREE Suicide Prevention booklet. More FREE resources will be made available soon so stay in the loop!