Suicide Prevention - information page

Suicide is not inevitable. Preventing suicides is a complex and challenging issue, but there are effective solutions for many of the individual factors which contribute towards the risk of suicide.

If you are concerned about someone you think may be at risk or is vulnerable, there are local and national support services that can help.

Follow this link to find the services listed on this Reading Services Guide.

How to help someone who is suicidal?

  1. Speak up - ask, show that you care and listen
  2. Stay calm - listen, don't judge, be patient, offer help
  3. Have a conversation and help them find support

See the Suicide Prevention poster linked to this page.

Bereavement

Suicide is a devastating event. It is an individual tragedy, a life-altering crisis for those bereaved, and a traumatic event for communities and services. The impacts are immediately and profoundly distressing. 

Please read and download also on this page:

Advice on what to include in your Safety Plan

  • What are my warning signs?
  • What can I do to calm myself?
  • Who can I talk to?
  • Who can I reach out to when things have got too much?

Finding the words - how to support someone who has been bereaved and affected by suicide

  • Why suicide is a unique loss
  • Things to remember
  • Everyone grieves differently
  • Things to say and do
  • Things to avoid

Help prevent a suicide (link to leaflet):

  • suicidal feelings
  • things that might drive someone to think about suicide
  • warning signs
  • listening ear
  • how you can help prevent a suicide

#StayAlive app (link to flyer):

A suicide prevention pocket resource.  Stay Alive offers help and support both to people with thoughts of suicide, and to people concerned about someone else.

It contains three areas of information:
- Directory of local resources – by county
- Advice and information – including myth busting about suicide
- Dedicated section for those supporting people feeling suicidal

NHS information page with link to the Stay Alive App: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/wellbeing-apps/stayalive/  

#Samaritans Self Help app

This app contains the tools to create a personal safety plan and follow it as well as a mood tracker.  It looks for patterns in feelings and can store images that give hope.

You can find support services listed on this Reading Services Guide.

 

Notifying Agencies/Organisations When Someone Has Died

Notifying agencies of a family member’s death is an extremely difficult, emotionally charged and labour intensive task for the bereaved.  Many are uncertain who to contact and where to start.

Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a death notification form for the bereaved, which provides a list of organisations that they many need to (or wish to) notify.  It has been deliberately designed so that it can be used/offered to anyone who is bereaved, regardless of the cause of death.

Link to the document  https://suicidebereavementuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Final-Notification-Table.pdf

Related Advice

Mental health and emotional wellbeing Information about what to do after someone has died

Page last reviewed: 15/01/2024

Contact the Team

Family Information Service

fis@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

SEND Local Offer

localoffer@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

Adult & Carers Support

CSAAdvice.Signposting@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3747 0118 937 3747
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