World Suicide Prevention Day 2025

Suicide Prevention Life Cards – Do you know where to go for help?

Wednesday 10 September was World Suicide Prevention Day and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Hampshire County Council and our NHS and local authority colleagues, are sharing their NHS Life Cards aiming to help anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts get access to help and support available across Hampshire and nationally.

NHS Life Cards signpost people to key organisations that offer advice, help and support to people who are having suicidal thoughts. They also provide vital resources to everyone on how to help someone with suicidal thoughts and how they can save a life.  The cards are sized so they fit discreetly into wallets, phone pouches, card holders, pockets and bags allowing people to have the resources to hand, when and where they need them. 

Claiming the lives of over 700,000 people each year, someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague dies every 40 seconds from a suicide.

Jeremy Rowland, Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said, 

“When someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts it’s often difficult for that person to know where to seek urgent help and support, and it can be challenging for anyone who is worried about someone they know experiencing suicidal thoughts to know what to do. We want to make sure people have quick access to key organisations that can help offer the support they need to help save a life.” 

Beth is autistic and struggles with her mental health. When Beth is feeling low and experiencing suicidal thoughts all she wants is someone to listen and carries a Life Card to make sure she has quick access to support if she needs it. 

Beth said,

"When I am having suicidal thoughts, it's difficult to know where to go to for support, the life cards are an easy way to find the help I need quickly. I carry a Life Card in my wallet so I feel reassured, that in a moment of crisis, I have the support I need to hand at all times."

Life cards are available free to the public and all NHS and public sector, charity and voluntary organisations. Private organisations are welcome to purchase the cards at a small cost. To find out how to access a Life Card please visit: www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/help-crisis.

Alongside the life cards we are with local NHS organisations across Hampshire and isle of wight  and Hampshire County Council and Southampton County Council here is what we are doing to help raise awareness of suicide prevention and share support to those who need it locally and nationwide: 

Sharing key support on digital boards and bus stop signs across Hampshire and in Southampton City
We will have key lifesaving support from our Life Cards on all Hampshire County Council and Southampton City's Council's digital screens and bus stops and on some NHS Primary Care GP surgery digital boards across Hampshire and in Southampton City.
 
Baton of Hope
We are also supporting the Baton of Hope, which will go on tour across the country throughout between 1 September and 10 October the baton will be carried through 20 locations across the UK, including Basingstoke on 25 September and Portsmouth on 26 September. Our Trust’s charity Brighterway and some of our clinical teams will have stands in Basingstoke and Portsmouth and will be sharing our Life Cards. 

The Baton of Hope was Set up in 2022 by Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, whose sons took their own lives and is the UK's biggest suicide prevention initiative. 

Find out more about the Baton of Hope here. 

Suicide Prevention Training 
Could you help save a life in just 30 minutes?

This World Suicide Prevention Day, please take a moment to discover how to support people and prevent suicide.
The free Zero Suicide Awareness Training gives you the tools to: 

• Spot the signs that someone might be struggling
• Start a conversation that can help people talk about their mental health
• Offer support and signpost to services that might save a life

You don’t need to be a professional. You just need to be willing to listen. You can make a difference for anyone who is struggling.

Join thousands who have already taken the training and are helping build safer, more compassionate communities.

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