As part of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2024, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is running a “Missed Birthdays" installation from 9 to 11 September, designed to raise awareness about the devastating reality of youth suicide in the UK. 6,929 balloons are being released to represent a young person who took their own life, and a birthday they didn’t get to celebrate. While this is happening there will be voice notes from some of their family members about the memories of the people they have lost. 

This campaign helps us think beyond statistics and remember that behind each name, there was a person who struggled, often feeling alone despite being surrounded by people in their professional and personal lives.  

Ongoing conversations about mental health, including in the workplace helps to ensure that those who might be struggling feel supported, not isolated. Let’s take moment to acknowledge the importance of World Suicide Day and our role in helping to foster a supportive and hopeful environment for each other.  Our actions, no matter how small, can have a meaningful impact. A kind word, a listening ear, or a simple gesture of support can make a significant difference for someone who may be struggling.  

Mental health is a journey and no-one has to walk it alone. If you ever find yourself struggling, know that reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are resources available, and help is always at hand.  

All staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the mental health resources available on our Staff Wellbeing Hub, which includes:  

The CALM website has lots of information and support. 

If you are a manager, ringfencing some time to include a wellbeing discussion in team meetings and 1:1s can help create a positive and open culture where people feel like they can bring their full selves to work. However, it’s essential to respect that no-one is under any obligation to share anything about their mental health.   

There is a range of wellbeing related content sessions on LearnUpon that may be helpful:  

*Please note the ZSA suicide awareness training is about 20 mins long and is informative but it can be triggering for some. We would recommend that anyone completing this training follows it up with the Real Talk interactive video https://prevent-suicide.org.uk/rtas/