Suicide prevention resources

As part of our Suicide Prevention and Response Plan, we want students to feel empowered to tackle the stigma and myths around suicide, and to become advocates for suicide prevention. That way, everyone can be supported, and we create a suicide-safer community.

Let’s Talk About Suicide Essex is a new website developed as part of the #TalkSuicideEssex campaign. It aims to reduce the stigma of talking about suicide and to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

Free, online suicide prevention training has been created for university students by the Zero Suicide Alliance, and we would strongly encourage all our students to participate to gain the skills and confidence to have a potentially life-saving conversation.

The Stay Alive app allows you to locate emergency crisis support services via your phone's location, create your own personalised safety plan, as well as making your own Life Box of photos which can be invaluable to look at when feeling low or suicidal.

Shining a Light on Suicide is another organisation providing fantastic resources on how you can support someone who may be feeling suicidal and also seek support for your own wellbeing.

MIND have produced tips on how to keep yourself safe in the moment if you feel suicidal. These include making a safety plan, speaking to someone you trust, using distraction techniques, and challenging the negative thoughts you are experiencing.

It’s also important to look at how you can cope and manage in the future by managing difficult feelings, learning to value and appreciate yourself, connecting with other people, and taking care of your physical health and wellbeing.

If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, or you are concerned for someone you know, you can call Papyrus on 0800 068 4141, or Samaritans on 116 123, for confidential advice and support.

If you need a friendly chat about how you’re feeling and the support that is available to you at the University, come and speak with the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS). You can contact SWIS either via email at wellbeing@essex.ac.uk, or by coming to the Wellbeing Assessment Service.

During evenings and weekends, you can contact the 24-hour Student Wellbeing Support Line on 0800 970 5020. You can also access our SilverCloud and Togetherall online support programmes at any time.