Suicide awareness

For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. To access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts - Samaritans freephone 116 123 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org

Download our Sources of Support PDF for a list of support available across the UK.

In crisis? Find out how you can get urgent support

If you need support urgently or outside of our working hours, please don’t hesitate to contact

SAMARITANS

Freephone their national helpline on 116 123 (24/7) to access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts

SHOUT

A crisis text support service for people in the military community who are struggling and need immediate support to get through a crisis. Text CONTACT to 85258. #TextCONTACT85258

NHS 111

To access medical help fast but when it’s not a 999 emergency, telephone 111 (available 24 hours). To access information from the NHS on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living, visit the NHS website.

COMBAT STRESS

For urgent psychological support, please call 0800 1381619.

SHELTER

For urgent housing support, please call 0808 800 4444.

SEE THE PROBLEM - SAY THE WORDS - SIGNPOST TO SUPPORT

We need to talk about suicide. Every day, our specialist teams support veterans and families to stand strong once again. But for many, the journey before they take the first step towards accessing that support can take weeks, months or even years.

We believe having a conversation can be lifesaving. When someone opens up, it’s important that they feel safe and listened to. We want to help create suicide-safer communities, where veterans and families feel they can speak up as soon as they start to struggle.

Hopefully you will never need to have this conversation, but if you did…would you know what to say?

What Suicide Awareness Training does The Recovery College offer?

    A Group Course

    For the Armed Forces Community

    • A free, group course run online via Microsoft Teams.
      • Co-delivered by those with lived experience and experts from our Services Team.
      • These sessions give you an opportunity to learn how to have an open conversation about suicide, including what language to use and sources of support available, alongside others in the Armed Forces Community.
      Apply for Course

      A Self-Help Guide

      Open to all

      • Designed to work through at your own pace, any time, anywhere, with no need to sign up.
      • This guide will give you the skills and knowledge you need to have a potentially life-saving conversation with a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger in the street. Scenarios, real life stories and resources will help guide you through what to do, should the situation arise.
      Self-Help Guide

      Please note

      The training described above is not designed for individuals currently experiencing suicidal thoughts.

      For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. 

      To access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts - Samaritans freephone 116 123 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org .

      Help for Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance - Rob's Story

      Help for Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance - Rob's Story

      More about the Group Course

      What will I learn on the 'Suicide Awareness- Start the Conversation' group course?

      • How to have an open conversation about suicide.
      • The language to use when talking about suicide.
      • How to develop effective safety plans.
      • The range of sources of support available.

      How long is the course?

      • 1 x meet and greet session.
      • 1 x 2.5-hour module.

      Who is it for?

      Anyone in the Armed Forces Community, visit our get help page for more information.

      How do I apply?

      If you are already engaged with us, please speak to your point of contact within the Charity. They will be able to help book you onto our courses.

      If you are not yet engaged with us, we’d love to welcome you.

      Apply for Course

      More about the Self-Help Guide

      What will I learn on the 'Suicide awareness - start the conversation' self-help guide?

      • Skills and knowledge to have a potentially life-saving conversation.
      • More about recognising the indicators of suicidal behaviours.
      • Where to signpost to for help and support.

      Who is it for?

      We encourage everyone to work through the ZSA guide, as you never know when you might need it.

      Please be aware this is not designed for individuals currently experiencing suicidal thoughts.

      How do I access it?

      With no need to book or sign up to anything, you can work through the ZSA online self-help guide at your own pace, any time.

        Self-Help Guide
        • Suicide Awareness Training FAQs

          • The Facts

            1 in 3 veterans have felt suicidal in their lifetime (Source: YouGov Plc, 2022)

            Worldwide over 700,000 people a year take their own life (Source: WHO, 2021)

            Approximately 6000 people take their own life in the UK each year (Source: Office for National Statistics. 2019)

            287 serving UK regular Armed Forces personnel took their own life between 2003-2022 (Source: MOD Statistical Notice, 2023)

            Veteran suicide is not currently recorded by the UK Government but will be from 2022, with the first report due in 2023.

            The government is also conducting a 10 year look back to examine veteran deaths through suicide. This research is expected to be published in 2023. (Source: Veteran suicide figures to be recorded for the first time - GOV.UK)

            • As part of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s ‘One is Too Many’ programme we have received funding which has enabled us to develop this bespoke training course with the aim of creating suicide-safer communities for veterans.

              We also offer a range of specialist and tailored recovery services that enable veterans and families to live secure and healthy lives with purpose. This includes one-to-one mental, clinical and physical health support, our Recovery College and a range of sports and wellbeing activities.

              We’re calling on Local Authorities and the Government to take action to prevent more veteran suicides

            • We encourage everyone to take this training as you never know when you might need it.

              If you are a suicide survivor or have been bereaved by suicide, you may find elements of the training difficult. Please take care and make sure you have someone supportive nearby.

            • Increase your skills and knowledge, in a similar way to mental health first aid training

              Learn to recognise the indicators of suicidal behaviours

              Learn how to have that difficult conversation should the need arise

              Know where to signpost to for help and support

              Potentially save the life of a loved one, friend, colleague or even a stranger.

              • For immediate support in an emergency please call 999. To access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts - Samaritans freephone 116 123 (24/7) or email jo@samaritans.org

                Download our Sources of Support PDF for a list of support available across the UK.

            More courses and self-help guides

            Was this page useful?