World Suicide Prevention Day

This World Suicide Prevention Day, Samaritans are sharing one important message: If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them you care.

Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide* and 1 in 4 of us has had suicidal thoughts.**

Let’s prevent suicide today. Because tomorrow’s too late.

We surveyed people with lived experience of suicide and the majority told us that their suicidal thoughts have been interrupted.***

• 60% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by someone close to them, like a friend or family member.
• 14% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by a stranger or someone they didn’t know.

Samaritan's World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 campaign was co-created with people who have lived experience of suicidal thoughts. We’re sharing their experiences and insights to help you take action if you suspect someone may be suicidal. We've put together the following webpages:

• How to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts, including real-life examples of how people’s suicidal thoughts were interrupted by strangers or someone they know.
• Ideas for how to support yourself if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts

Small interruptions you make and actions you take could help someone who is suicidal. You don’t have to be an expert to save someone’s life.

In response to our survey, many people with lived experience recalled times when those close to them, such as family members or friends, had interrupted their suicidal thoughts.

Others talked about times when people they were less close to, even total strangers, interrupted their suicidal thoughts.