Key Points
- Havering Council has launched a new suicide prevention campaign to break the silence on suicide and encourage people to seek support.
- The campaign follows a 2024 consultation showing urgent public demand to reduce stigma around suicide.
- Havering experiences a higher suicide rate than the London average, with one resident dying by suicide every three weeks (2020-2022 data).
- The Havering All-Age Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2030 sets out a five-year plan focusing on identifying people at risk, reducing stigma, preventing suicide, and strengthening support systems.
- The campaign was developed with the Havering Lived Experience Advisory Group, comprising people with personal experience of suicide.
- Councillor Gillian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, urges the community to view reaching out for support as a strength and encourages direct conversations about suicidal thoughts.
- The campaign and strategy include education, public awareness, suicide prevention training, and involvement of local businesses such as barbers, betting shops, and pubs.
- The Council will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2025 with a conference at CEME, Rainham.
- Support services are available for those affected by suicidal thoughts or bereavement.
What is Havering Council’s new campaign about?
Havering Council has launched a new suicide prevention campaign aimed at breaking the silence around suicide and encouraging people to seek available support. This initiative was born out of a 2024 consultation where residents highlighted the urgent need to reduce stigma surrounding suicide in the borough. The campaign is designed to shift public attitudes away from fear and misunderstanding to a culture of openness, empathy, and proactive support.
The campaign benefited from the input of the Havering Lived Experience Advisory Group, which includes individuals who have experienced suicide firsthand, either personally or within their communities. Their voices have been central in shaping the messaging and approach to ensure it resonates with those affected.
Why is suicide prevention a priority in Havering?
Statistics show that Havering has a suicide rate higher than the London average, with one resident dying by suicide every three weeks from 2020 to 2022. Each death impacts not only family and close friends but ripples across the entire community, affecting workplaces, schools, and social networks.
Councillor Gillian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, noted: “Suicide is a significant health problem. Every death by suicide affects another 135 people. Every death by suicide is potentially preventable, so we aim to improve the success of suicide prevention activities within Havering to reduce the number of deaths over the next five years.” She emphasised the importance of community involvement in recognising risk: “It’s important that everyone sees the prevention of suicide as their business and is able to talk to someone they care about to prevent it”.
What does the Havering All-Age Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2030 entail?
In March 2025, the Council launched its All-Age Suicide Prevention Strategy, setting a framework for a five-year plan to save lives in Havering. The strategy has three core objectives:
- Identifying people at increased risk of suicide and understanding the reasons why.
- Reducing stigma and increasing knowledge about how to prevent suicide.
- Strengthening support at both individual and population levels, including those at risk and the bereaved.
The strategy was shaped by extensive consultation throughout 2024 involving over 60 responses, including lived experience voices, healthcare professionals, and educational representatives. Feedback led to a stronger focus on children and young people’s mental health, improved crisis and bereavement support, and greater inclusivity for neurodivergent and autistic individuals.
A Suicide Prevention Steering Group oversees the strategy’s implementation. Its membership spans the Council, NHS, safeguarding leads, mental health charities, and people with lived experience of suicide or suicide bereavement.
The strategy also commits to education and training initiatives to reduce stigma, including suicide prevention training for frontline workers such as barbers, hair stylists, betting shop employees, and pub staff, enabling them to recognise signs of distress and guide individuals towards appropriate support.
How does the campaign address stigma and what role do public conversations play?
Reducing stigma is a fundamental aim of the campaign. Councillor Gillian Ford stressed: “We must break the fear of stigma. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.” She added, “Asking someone if they have suicidal thoughts won’t put the idea into their head, but it could be the first, crucial step towards them getting help.” This message counters common misconceptions that discussing suicide might encourage suicidal behaviour.
Sandeep Saib, a member of the Havering Lived Experience Advisory Group, shared a personal reflection: “It felt like I was drowning in silence. But slowly, words came and so did relief. Talking about suicidal thoughts can feel terrifying, but it’s also a powerful step toward healing”.
What support services and training are included in the campaign?
The campaign promotes awareness of several support services available to those feeling suicidal or affected by suicide, including emotional, practical, and crisis interventions. The Council highlights that challenges such as financial hardship, bereavement, or substance use are factors often contributing to suicidal thoughts and that help is available for these underlying issues.
Training is a key component, providing frontline community workers and business employees with skills to:
- Recognise signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviours,
- Engage in supportive conversations,
- Listen empathetically,
- Signpost individuals to professional services.
The Council’s upcoming HereToTalk programme exemplifies these efforts, offering suicide prevention training to people from diverse community roles. This proactive approach seeks to build a network of informed individuals across Havering who can intervene early.
How is World Suicide Prevention Day being observed in Havering?
Havering Council, alongside its partners, will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2025 with a full-day conference at CEME, Rainham. This event aims to raise further awareness, share knowledge, and galvanise community and professional commitment to suicide prevention.
The day will feature presentations, workshops, and opportunities for dialogue among mental health experts, local authorities, people with lived experience, and members of the public. The Council hopes this will reinforce the key messages of openness and support at the heart of its campaign.
Why does the Council want the community involved in suicide prevention?
The campaign and strategy emphasise that suicide prevention is not solely the responsibility of health professionals or government; it is everyone’s business. By empowering residents to understand suicide risks, challenge stigma, and speak openly, the Council aims to create a culture where people look out for one another.
The Havering Suicide Prevention Strategy reinforces that local government, NHS, public services, businesses, schools, and individuals all have roles in building a safer, more supportive community where people feel comfortable asking for help and offering it.
Councillor Ford encapsulated this by saying, “If we can ask the right questions and signpost residents to help, this will be a massive step to preventing and reducing the number of suicides locally.”
What resources are available for those affected by suicide or having suicidal thoughts?
Support is accessible via several trusted services, including:
- Samaritans: A 24/7 listening service for anyone needing to talk.
- Shout: A free confidential 24/7 text service providing crisis support.
- Local mental health and social care services coordinated by Havering Council and NHS partners.
The Council encourages anyone affected by suicide—whether experiencing suicidal thoughts, bereavement by suicide, or supporting others—to reach out to these services without fear or hesitation.
