On World Suicide Prevention Day, we remember every life lost to suicide and those who continue to carry the impact of that loss. We also recognise those who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, and the importance of ensuring that they are met with compassion, understanding, and support.

This year marks the third and final year of the World Health Organization’s triennial theme, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, with the call to action Start the Conversation. It is a reminder that the way we speak, listen and respond matters. Moving away from silence, stigma, and judgement can help create spaces where people feel safer to talk about what they are going through and to ask for help.

Suicidal distress can occur in the context of many different and often interconnected circumstances. Mental health difficulties and substance use disorders can sometimes intersect with suicidal distress, while acute experiences such as intoxication, severe emotional distress, or substance-induced psychosis may further complicate a person’s situation. Stigma, isolation, and barriers to care can also make reaching out for help more difficult. Our response must therefore recognise this complexity and ensure that support is compassionate, evidence-based, and centred on individual needs.

Recognising this complexity also means ensuring that, when people seek help, the support they receive reflects the full range of challenges they may be facing. For some, suicidal distress may occur alongside mental health difficulties or substance use disorders, making coordinated and person-centred care especially important. People affected by substance use disorders should be able to access treatment and support that also responds to their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Prevention begins long before a crisis. Supporting healthy development, strengthening social and emotional skills and protective factors, fostering positive relationships and creating safe and supportive environments can help people navigate difficult periods in their lives. WHO’s LIVE LIFE approach identifies fostering socio-emotional life skills in adolescents as one of four key effective interventions for suicide prevention, alongside responsible communication about suicide, limiting access to means of suicide, and early identification, assessment, management and follow-up for people affected by suicidal behaviours.

The scale of the challenge remains significant. More than 720,000 people die by suicide every year. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally, while 73% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Each of these lives matters, and every loss can have a profound and lasting impact on families, friends and communities.

Starting the conversation is one part of suicide prevention. It does not mean having all the answers; sometimes it begins simply with listening, taking someone seriously and helping them connect with appropriate support. What matters is that people feel able to speak and that help is available when they do.

Suicide prevention also requires sustained support beyond moments of immediate crisis. For people in treatment or recovery, rebuilding stability, relationships, confidence, purpose, and hope can take time. Continued care, supportive relationships and opportunities to reconnect with community life can help strengthen connection, belonging, and wellbeing.

Families and others close to someone experiencing suicidal distress can play an important role by listening, staying connected, recognising when someone may need additional help and encouraging them to seek appropriate support. Providing families and loved ones with information, guidance and support can help them feel better equipped to respond with care and understanding.

Changing the narrative must therefore extend beyond conversation. It also means ensuring that policies, services and communities are prepared to respond when someone asks for help. Suicide prevention requires sustained investment, accessible mental health and substance use disorder services, early support and coordinated action across sectors.

At WFAD, we believe that reducing stigma, strengthening protective factors, recognising distress earlier and ensuring access to appropriate treatment and recovery support can all contribute to suicide prevention and to healthier, more supportive communities.

Changing the narrative begins with how we speak to one another, how we listen and how we respond. Together, we can help create a future where fewer lives are lost to suicide, where more people feel able to seek support, and where timely, compassionate care is within reach.

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or you are worried about someone else, please reach out for support. You can find helplines and crisis support services in more than 175 countries through Find A Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/. You can also contact your national suicide prevention helpline, local emergency services or a trusted health professional.