A more compassionate approach to suicide prevention is needed

A sketch of a woman and a man sharing a quiet moment on a bench, surrounded by trees in an open space. The man’s expression is thoughtful, while the woman listens intently, creating a scene of connection and care.

Writing about suicide is not an easy task. Understandably, talking about it can be an even greater challenge.

I feel compelled to write these lines because every year around this time, we raise awareness about the importance of suicide prevention. Yet, once the week is over, we often forget that every hour there are people who need someone to talk to, or simply someone willing to listen as they struggle with thoughts of ending their lives. 

The nature of our work as advocates is deeply connected to the needs of the people we support. At times, this includes responding to suicidal ideation, which can become part of our daily practice. Whether it is providing support, listening without judgement, or signposting people to appropriate services when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide, these conversations are never easy. 

Yet, our understanding of these challenges can take on a very different dimension when suicide touches our own lives. When a family member is struggling, the professional distance we are often able to maintain disappears, and we are faced with the situation not as advocates, but as loved ones. In these moments, solidarity, understanding, compassion, and the ability to create space for someone to be heard become even more important. 

At its heart, this is also a form of advocacy. It is about helping a person find their voice when they may be unable to express what they are feeling, ensuring they are listened to without judgement, and creating safe spaces where their experiences, fears, and perspectives can be acknowledged and understood. 

In the UK, as I write this, an average of 19 people take their own lives each day (Office for National Statistics, 2024). I remember accompanying a colleague on a visit to a family who had lost a loved one to suicide. Sadly, it was one of those cases that may have been prevented, but where the system failed to provide the support and consistency that was needed.  

While reviewing the literature and statistics, I began to question how mainstream approaches shape suicide prevention, and whether more holistic perspectives could support a more inclusive response. Such an approach would listen to, value, and learn from the voices and lived experiences of people with suicidal thoughts, rather than treating their distress solely as a medical problem. 

Is social justice missing? 

The rate of suicide in Norwich, across the UK, and globally is deeply concerning. In England, suicide rates have reached their highest level since 1999. This trend is also reflected worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people. 

It is important to recognise that the multiple crises we face, including financial hardship, social inequality, climate change, discrimination, past trauma, and war, can have a profound impact on mental health. These challenges may affect everyone, but they disproportionately impact those who are already vulnerable. Suicide prevention policies cannot succeed in isolation if they fail to consider the complex interplay of social identities, inequalities, and systemic disadvantages. 

Evidence shows that vulnerable groups, including Indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, Disabled people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, often face additional barriers, stigma, discrimination, and exclusion, all of which can increase their risk of suicide. This is compounded by the fact that, as a society, we have failed to create the conditions or safe spaces that many suicidal people need in order to talk openly about their experiences. Instead, we have often placed people in silos, obscured the topic of suicide, and judged the person rather than addressing the circumstances contributing to their distress.  

A social justice approach to suicide prevention is therefore essential, ensuring that policies and interventions address the intersectional barriers that prevent people from accessing meaningful and non-judgemental support. Viewing suicide prevention through a social justice lens helps advocates shift attention towards the underlying social, economic, and structural factors that contribute to suicide, rather than focusing solely on mental health.  

As advocates, we have a moral commitment to social justice. Because the communities we support are often among those most vulnerable to suicide, we also have a responsibility to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard and to challenge the inequalities that place people at greater risk. 

Social justice is key because it moves suicide prevention beyond an exclusively clinical or mental health perspective. It recognises the unique risk factors experienced by people with protected characteristics and acknowledges the socio-cultural and economic barriers they face. By addressing these wider determinants of health and wellbeing, we can develop more inclusive, effective, and equitable approaches to suicide prevention. 

A holistic perspective is needed 

Advocacy plays a crucial role in highlighting the intersecting inequalities that may contribute to suicide. However, suicide prevention continues to be viewed largely through the lens of the medical model. The complex nature of suicide reflects the complexity of human experiences, and therefore a more holistic approach is urgently needed to address the gaps in current practice and understanding. 

Unfortunately, current suicide prevention policies often remain too rigid and do not sufficiently consider the voices, experiences, and feelings of people living with suicidal ideation. There is a need to create opportunities for individuals to speak about their experiences in a non-coercive and non-judgemental way, while also challenging existing power dynamics within suicide prevention. A more compassionate approach would enable people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts to help shape how suicide prevention is understood, designed, and delivered. 

Ana Borges, a mental health advocate, writer, and person with lived experience of passive suicidal ideation, argues that dominant perspectives on suicide often place suicidal individuals under intense pressure, surveillance, and pathologisation, which can lead to silence rather than support. We should not wait until a person's story is told through a final letter before listening to their experiences. Instead, we must create safe spaces where people can speak openly about suicidal thoughts without fear of stigma, shame or oppression. Suicidal individuals often have important stories to tell, and by listening to them now, we can foster more effective, humane, and empathetic approaches to suicide prevention. 

If you know someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, whether through your work, a loved one, or a friend, it’s important to listen to their story with compassion and care. Offer connection and meet them where they are emotionally, validating their feelings without judgment.

References

Baril, Alexandre. Suicide and the Soul: A Philosophical Exploration. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2023. 

Baril, Alexandre. "Suicidism: A New Theoretical Framework to Conceptualize Suicide from an Anti-Oppressive Perspective." Disability Studies Quarterly 41, no. 2 (2021). https://dsq-sds.org/article/id/898/. 

Berman, Alan L., Morton M. Silverman, Diego De Leo, and Daniel Reidenberg. "Defining Suicidology and the Titling of Suicidologist?" Archives of Suicide Research 25, no. 2 (2021): 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000790. 

Department of Health and Social Care. Suicide Prevention in England: 5-Year Cross-Sector Strategy. London: Department of Health and Social Care, 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028/suicide-prevention-in-england-5-year-cross-sector-strategy. 

Disability Rights UK. "Disabled People Far More Likely to Die by Suicide than Non-Disabled People." Disability Rights UK. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/disabled-people-far-more-likely-die-suicide-non-disabled-people. 

Mueller, Anna S., Seth Abrutyn, Bernice Pescosolido, and Sarah Diefendor. "The Social Roots of Suicide: Theorizing How the External Social World Matters to Suicide and Suicide Prevention." American Journal of Sociology 127, no. 3 (2021): 745-790. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33868089/. 

Office for National Statistics. "Suicides in England and Wales: 2023 Registrations." Office for National Statistics. 2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2023. 

Samaritans. "Suicide Facts and Figures: Latest Suicide Data." Samaritans. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/latest-suicide-data/. 

van Zalinge, Elise E. "The Relationship Between Intersectionality and Suicide on Five Different Social Identity Levels." Campus Fryslân, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2021. https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/71/1/BA%203639886%20E%20E%20van%20Zalinge.pdf. 

World Health Organization. "Suicide." World Health Organization. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide/.