YOU'RE NOT ALONE
Every 90 minutes a life is lost to suicide…now The Sun’s new campaign aims to help stop that
The Sun's You're Not Alone campaign aims to help prevent deaths from suicide
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
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It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
Yet, it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun today launches the You're Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.
Anyone can be affected by suicide, and we can all do our bit to help.
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To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, over the course of this week, we will tell you the stories of brave survivors, relatives left behind, heroic Good Samaritans (including Paige Hunter, 18, pictured below) - and share tips from mental health experts.
Kerry Katona is one of those driven to the point where she considered taking her own life.
Today she tells The Sun how her cocaine addiction, failing marriage and money problems left her wanting to pass out asleep and never wake up.
The 37-year-old, who is bipolar, said she took so many drugs with ex-husband Mark Croft she would have fits that left her foaming at the mouth.
"I felt really suicidal when I was married to my second husband, Mark," she said.
“I was snorting cocaine like it was going out of fashion. I felt so isolated. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I almost gave in.”
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Kerry's experiences of mental health issues began even before she was born when her mum tried to slit her own throat while she was eight months pregnant with Kerry.
At three years old, Kerry watched her mum slit her wrists for the first time.
KNOW THE SIGNS From drinking too much to a lack of sleep...10 signs your loved one could be at risk of suicide
Up until the age of 17, her mum's attempts to take her own life were a constant in Kerry's life.
The reality star now admits, she has had her daughters' names tattooed on her own wrists, to stop her following her mum's footsteps.
Thanks to exercise, Kerry has turned her life around, and hopes that by sharing her experience she can help others.
Kerry is not alone, 10million Brits have experienced suicidal thoughts.
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YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost - to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet, it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun has launched the You're Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, over the course of this week, we will tell you the stories of brave survivors, relatives left behind, heroic Good Samaritans - and share tips from mental health experts.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others. You're Not Alone.
For a list of support services available, please see the Where To Get Help box below.
We spoke to suicide survivors and this is what they want you to know
While, three million have attempted to take their own life - that's around one attempt every four minutes.
Last year, 5,821 lives were lost to suicide - 75 per cent of them were men.
Ruth Sutherland, CEO of the Samaritans, said preventing suicide is everybody's business, adding that together we really can make a difference.
Backing The Sun's campaign, she said: "We need to get the message across to everyone that anyone can be affected by suicide, but everyone can help.
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"There will be times in all our lives when we need help, and as many as one in five of us have suicidal thoughts.
"It's what we do about that, which is important.
"With the right action and support, suicide is preventable."
Owen Sharp, CEO of the leading men's health charity Movember, said The Sun's campaign is vital is helping to get men talking.
"We are proud to support The Sun and are working together to empower men worldwide and arm them with the tools and resources to be mentally healthy and well," he said.
"We're hoping to show men that to be the best versions of themselves - to be better dads, mates and sons - they need to be men of more words.
"We want men and their supporters to know that talking, more and with more meaningful words, saves lives."
Simon Gunning, CEO of the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) praised The Sun's campaign.
Why it's up to all of us to reduce deaths by suicide
He said it is vital to give people a platform to share their experiences, and encourage people to speak out.
But, he added, there is still a huge amount of work to do - calling for the Government to make ministers responsible for suicide prevention.
"We are going in the right direction," he said. "But, the shocking facts are still there, and it is acutely apparent that we as a society have a lot of work to do.
"Men are still three times more likely to take their own lives in the UK and thousands of people are still reaching a point where they feel suicide is their only option.
The Sun Says
TODAY marks World Suicide Prevention Day, and we’re proud to support it by launching our You’re Not Alone campaign.
Be it veterans suffering from PTSD to simply those having a hard time, too many people still suffer in silence – with potentially devastating results.
Today in print and online for the rest of the week, we will attempt to start this vital national conversation.
We spoke to bereaved family members affected by suicide and this is what they want you to know
"Suicide is an issue that affects everyone and together we can build on the positive change we're seeing to make a tangible, societal difference that will save and change lives."
Matthew Smith is one of the thousands of relatives left behind by suicide.
His brother Dan was 19 years old when he took his life.
Backing The Sun's campaign, he said: "He was a popular lad who had a loving family and large group of friends around him - all of whom face the pain, and unanswered questions every day.
"Campaigns like this are so important."
Suicide in Britain – the tragic facts
- 1 in 15 adults in England have attempted suicide
- 3 out of 4 deaths by suicide are men
- Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50
- Suicide is the biggest killer of women aged 20 to 34
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for people under 35
- People diagnosed with a mental health disorder are 5 to 15 times more likely to die by suicide
- Unemployed people are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide than employed
- Low-skilled male labourers, particularly in construction, have a 3 times higher risk of suicide
- Prisoners are up to 10 times more likely to die by suicide
- Young people who have been sexually abused are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide
- Gay and bisexual men are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual men
- Around 26% of young women have self-harmed
- 1 in 7 deaths of new mothers is by suicide
- Homeless people are 5 times more likely to die by suicide
He teamed up with CALM to launch a petition calling for ministerial responsibility for suicide prevention and specialised bereavement support.
"Suicide claims thousands of lives every year, yet no minister in the UK Government is officially responsible for the people who feel like suicide is their only option, or the hundreds of thousands of people bereaved by suicide by suicide whose lives will never be the same again," Matthew added.
"Together I believe we can change that."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
To make that change, it's essential that the stigma around suicide is wiped out, and that people no longer feel embarrassed to talk about mental health issues.
"I'm fine", is a typically British response, but let's vow to make "I'm not fine", just as British.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others.
To save more lives and prevent suicide it is up to each and everyone of us to let our loved ones know, You're Not Alone.
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123