What is World Suicide Prevention Day?

People across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being encouraged to help change the way suicide is talked about — by learning how to recognise when someone may be struggling and by having open, supportive conversations.

Around 1 in 4 of us will experience suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives. Suicide rates remain above the national average in Lincolnshire, and within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough the highest rates are seen in Fenland, with Peterborough also exceeding the national average. Behind every number is a person — and the families, friends and communities who love them.

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September. It’s a moment to pause, reflect and remember that every life lost to suicide is one too many. It’s also a reminder that each of us has a role to play in creating safer, more compassionate communities.

Here at CPSL Mind, we run the STOP Suicide campaign — a local suicide prevention initiative designed to raise awareness, challenge stigma and equip people with the confidence to talk openly about suicide. Through training, resources and community action, our aim is simple: to build a suicide‑safer Cambridgeshire and Peterborough where everyone feels able to reach out and support someone who may be struggling.

Every year on World Suicide Prevention Day, takes place every 10 September, we join the conversation. This year, our message is clear: one conversation can change a life.

Before we explore how that conversation can happen — and why it matters — we’ve put together a guide to help you understand what World Suicide Prevention Day is and why it’s such an important moment for our communities.

What is World Suicide Prevention Day?

According to the World Health Organization, “World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). The 10th of September each year focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organisations, government, and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented.

2026 marks the third and final year of the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day (2024–2026), Changing the Narrative on Suicide, with the call to action: Start the Conversation. This theme calls on us all to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and foster open, compassionate conversations about suicide. It is about shifting from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support, creating environments where people feel able to speak up and seek help.

Here at CPSL Mind,  we believe everyday should be World Suicide Prevention Day. However, this event is a chance for the world to come together to highlight the importance of suicide prevention by supporting people having suicidal thoughts and challenging the stigma around suicide.

How CPSL Mind is getting involved

STOP Suicide is launching a campaign on how ‘one conversation can change a life’ and will be sharing stories from people living locally in Cambridgeshire.

Our campaign video features Dee’s story. Dee left her hometown in the Philippines in 2017, now lives in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Having experienced a difficult period in her life relating to family challenges and difficulties with her businesses, Dee is choosing to speak openly about when she experienced suicidal thoughts in the hope it will offer other people hope that your life can improve.

In the campaign video, Dee says, “When you go through something so dark and so isolating, there is no hope. I was on a mission to make sure that someone was going to look after my daughter. One of my oldest childhood best friends is a doctor and I said to her if something is to happen me, please don’t resuscitate. I felt like there was no other solution, I was so ready to end it all.”

Dee found the strength and courage to speak up about her challenges and spoke to one of her friend’s dads.

“I told him my life is so meaningless and he listened to me. He said: you’re not going to know real happiness if you haven’t gone through the deepest sorrow. That changed something inside of me and that night I thought about a lot of things that had happened. That conversation with him changed my perspective.

“I hope this campaign will help anyone who is going through something similar to see hope, even if it’s just a glimpse of hope.”

Watch the full video below

As well as spreading the message across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we will be providing training and information to individuals to help support someone at risk.

the following advice for supporting someone with suicidal thoughts:

Listen and emphasise:

Listening in a compassionate and non-judgemental way is one of the most helpful things you can do. Avoid the temptation to try and change the subject or to list all the ‘positives’ in the person’s life. Just listen and try and see things from their point of view.

Ask if they have a plan:

It may not be easy, but it’s important to talk openly about this. If the person has a specific suicide plan and the means to take their own life then they need urgent help.

Get Help:

If you have serious concerns for the individuals’ immediate safety, do not leave them on their own. You can ring 999 or, depending on your relationship with the person, you might support them to get an urgent GP Appointment or take them to A&E. See also a list of helplines on CPSL Mind’s Get Help Now Page: https://www.cpslmind.org.uk/get-help-now/

Do not put yourself at risk:

Your own safety must come first.

Take care of yourself:

Supporting someone who is suicidal can be shocking and distressing. Be mindful of your own wellbeing – and talk to someone you trust about how it has made you feel. Alternatively, it may help to phone one of the helplines overleaf to talk it through.

You can download a range of STOP Suicide campaign resources for yourself and your community. These include self-help leaflets for those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts as well as those who are concerned that someone they know might be at risk. https://www.cpslmind.org.uk/stop-suicide/resources/

How you can sign up for training?

Did you know that our training team runs free-to-attend STOP Suicide workshops? These suicide prevention workshops help you understand how to:

• Have a conversation about suicide
• Support someone at risk
• Keep yourself safe

If you’re interested in learning more on how to identify a person at risk of suicide and to equip yourself to support that individual to stay safe, why not sign up for the workshops.