World Suicide Prevention Day: Changing the narrative and supporting each other
Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, we are reminded of the importance of talking about mental health and supporting those who may be struggling. Suicide is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide. Each of these lives lost leaves behind families, friends, workplaces, and whole communities who feel the pain deeply.
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2024 to 2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” This theme asks us to think differently about suicide and mental health. It calls on all of us to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and encourage open and honest conversations. For too long, silence has surrounded the subject of suicide. Breaking that silence and speaking with empathy can save lives.
Changing the narrative also means change at every level. Governments and organisations are urged to make suicide prevention a priority. It means improving access to care and making sure people in crisis get the support they need. It is about creating a world where nobody feels they have to suffer alone.
One example of change happening right here in our communities is ‘For Men To Talk’. Founded by Luke Newman, this peer support group offers a safe place for men living with mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and grief, to open up and talk.
Luke explains, “’For Men To Talk’ is about men coming together in a comfortable space, where they can share their thoughts and feelings. There are no rules or requirements. Some men speak a lot, others very little, but every voice is welcome. The idea came from my own struggles with anxiety, depression, and grief after losing my mother and sister to cancer. I knew how important it was for men to have a place where they could talk openly, without judgment.”
The first ‘For Men To Talk’ meeting was held in February 2020 at Jones’ Café in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, with nineteen men attending. Since then, the group has grown and now holds meetings in towns including Ampthill, Biggleswade, Potton, Shefford, Flitwick, St Neots, Gamlingay, Sandy, Hitchin, and even as far as Stockport in Cheshire.
Conversations in the group can cover anything from football and television to deeper discussions about emotions and life experiences. What matters is that men feel heard and supported. There is also ‘For Men To Talk’ about Autism, a group specifically for autistic men, those awaiting a diagnosis, or men with autistic family members. This group offers the same safe and inclusive space to share experiences and connect.
On this World Suicide Prevention Day, we must remember that talking can change lives. When men come together in safe spaces like those created by ‘For Men To Talk’, stigma is reduced, connections are made, and hope is restored.
If you would like to learn more about ‘For Men To Talk’, please visit www.formentotalk.co.uk, call 07709 446480, or email luke@formentotalk.co.uk.
Together, by opening up and changing the narrative, we can help prevent suicide and remind each other that nobody has to face their struggles alone.