Every year, organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.
Suicide rates in East Sussex have been significantly higher than the
England average for several years.
Talking about suicide isn’t easy. Asking someone if they are having thoughts of suicide does not increase the risk but gives people the opportunity to tell you how they feel and offers a space to talk.
Below we have listed places to access support, advice and tailored resources for people sharing specific characteristics. We appreciate there’s a lot to look through here, but if you only have five minutes then even just reading these tips from the Samaritans could help you support a colleague or loved one to talk about how they’re feeling.
Suicide is preventable, it’s not inevitable.
Support for someone in crisis
- Samaritans – day or night, 365 days a year. Call for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
- Urgent help in a crisis – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Shout Crisis Text Line – If you don’t want to talk over the phone, text SHOUT to 85258; lines are open 24 hours a day, every day and are for everyone
- Preventing Suicide in Sussex
- Help for suicidal thoughts – NHS
- Signs you may be struggling to cope – Samaritans
- Mind, the mental health charity: Useful contacts – helping someone who feels suicidal
Apps (available free)
- The GrassRoots Stay Alive app
- Better Stop Suicide app – Stop Suicide App. Suicide Prevention. Mental Health app (thebetterappcompany.com)
Support for specific groups
There are some additional risks and higher incidence of mental health conditions for some groups, relating to ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age and being a veteran. These resources may be helpful:
- BAME and mental health – Mental Health Foundation
- Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) mental health (rethink.org)
- Suicide Prevention – MindOut: run by and for LGBTQ people
- Learning disability support – Mind, the mental health charity
- Mental health – Disability charity Scope UK
- Prevention of Young Suicide – Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention
- The Silver Line – The free, 24-hour confidential helpline for older people
- Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists – NHS
Further mental health resources
- Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care – Facing the Future: support groups for people bereaved by suicide. More information: Support groups for people bereaved by suicide (samaritans.org)
- Information and support – Mind provides information and advice on a huge range of mental health topics
- Every Mind Matters encourages adults to be more aware of their mental health and offers simple steps to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
- Your Mind Plan is a free NHS-approved quiz helping to spot the signs of common mental health concerns, practical self-care tips and guidance, as well as advice on when to seek further support.
- How to get help with mental health problems (changegrowlive.org)
