Get support with feelings of suicide

Tuesday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day when organisations campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

We want our students to feel empowered to tackle the stigma and myths surrounding suicide, and to become suicide prevention advocates, so that everyone can be supported and create a suicide-safer community.

Support if you feel suicidal

Feelings of suicide are normal, but it’s important that you know there are people who can help and support you.

If you are struggling with your own feelings of suicide, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 to talk and get help. Papyrus is also available for you to contact on 0800 068 4141, and they offer fantastic support to prevent suicide.

Stay Alive is an app that you can download to your phone or desktop to help you in moments of crisis. You can access telephone numbers for crisis support services, create a LifeBox full of images and videos that are important to you, and develop your own safety plan. 

The Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service is here for you too. You can book an appointment to meet with the team using the online appointment form or you can email wellbeing@essex.ac.uk. Please do come and speak with us.

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.

How to help someone who feels suicidal

Free, online suicide prevention training has been created for university students by the Zero Suicide Alliance, and we strongly encourage all our students to participate to be equipped with the skills and confidence to have a potentially lifesaving conversation.

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

The Samaritans campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day provides guidance for starting a conversation with someone that you might be worried about, and highlights the importance of language and becoming a better listener.

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