SOS Silence of Suicide launches free training to help save lives

Almost half of 18–24-year-olds surveyed (46%) say they or a family member have been affected by suicide, double the rate of people aged 55 and over (23%), according to a new national survey by the charity SOS Silence of Suicide.

The survey asked respondents whether they or a family member had been impacted by suicide. The results reveal a generational divide, with young adults far more likely to have suicide touch their lives.

Regionally, experiences of suicide vary. Northern Ireland reports the highest impact, with 39% saying they or a family member have been affected. This compares with 33% in Wales, 30% in England and 29% in Scotland.

Additionally, across England the survey also revealed significant regional variations, with the North West showing the highest impact (38% affected), followed by Greater London (34%). The North East, South East and Yorkshire & the Humber recorded the joint lowest rates at 27%.

To tackle this silent crisis head-on, SOS is today urging people to take its new free mental health training course – OPEN Conversations – designed to give everyone the tools to help prevent suicide.

This training is only one part of the charity’s mission. With suicide rates still rising despite years of support and campaigning, SOS says prevention must begin in the everyday moments where someone might first show they’re struggling. By encouraging people to recognise that we all share responsibility for looking out for one another, the charity wants to ensure help reaches people long before they reach a crisis point.

OPEN Conversations teaches individuals to notice the signs someone may be overwhelmed, to respond with confidence rather than fear, and to provide vital support. And crucially, no prior expertise is required.

Lorna Hackett, Trustee at SOS Silence of Suicide, commented:

“These figures are heartbreaking. It shows us that for too many young people in the UK, suicide is not a distant tragedy but a devastating reality. And they are far from alone – three in ten people of all ages told us they have experienced this same heartbreak in their families. Behind every one of these numbers is a life lost too soon.

“SOS has been fighting the silence and stigma of speaking about suicide for 10 years, and we are now saying clearly that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. We must rethink how we respond. We want to change the narrative so that checking in, caring and noticing the signs become everyday actions, not specialist skills.”

Lorna continued:

“You don’t need to be a mental health professional to save a life. Sometimes, all it takes is being willing to have an uncomfortable conversation, to ask the difficult questions and to listen without judgement. OPEN Conversations enables people to do exactly that.

“This course can be completed in a lunch break – it only takes up to one hour – and will give you the confidence that could interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and change their trajectory forever. The silence is quite literally killing us; conversation is the medicine.”

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, SOS has spent a decade challenging stigma and supporting those in crisis. Its new training offers practical guidance for friends, colleagues, neighbours and family members. The OPEN Conversations course is free and available to complete now via SOS’s website: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/.

The survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of SOS Silence of Suicide in October 2025, with a nationally representative sample of 3,000 UK adults.

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Issued: Thursday, 20 November 2025