Our latest work

We’re using our research to influence policy and practice across the UK and Ireland. Have a read below to find out what we’ve been saying to policy-makers about the changes that are needed to prevent suicide.

Samaritans has submitted evidence to the Government’s consultation on a new suicide prevention strategy for England. The strategy, which was consulted on at the same time as a proposed 10-year Mental Health Plan, is an important chance to set the agenda for Government action on suicide prevention over the next decade.

Samaritans also leads the Suicide Prevention Consortium, part of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance. Through the Consortium we spoke to over 50 people with lived experience of suicide, self-harm and / or alcohol or drug misuse about what they thought needed to change through the strategy. This insight was shared directly with Government and informed Samaritans’ response, and you can read the report below.

Since 2019, Samaritans’ Online Excellence Programme has sought to promote consistently high standards across the sector to help make the internet a safer place. Towards a Suicide-Safer Internet shows how the UK Government can help ensure making the internet suicide-safer is a priority for all user-to-user platforms, with a focus on its Online Safety Bill. We argue that the Bill must ensure a basic regulatory floor protecting users from clearly harmful suicide and self-harm content, helping create safer spaces for those experiencing suicide and/or self-harm feelings.

We spoke to young adults about their experience of job loss, drop in income, reduced or less regular hours during the Coronavirus pandemic and what they need to be better supported. We found that economic disruption for young adults in the past eighteen months, predicted greater feelings of defeat and entrapment, which are key factors for future suicidal feelings and behaviour. We have made a set recommendations for decisionmakers in England for how to better support young adults who are struggling with their mental health having experienced economic disruption.

Samaritans shares the latest suicide data for nations across the UK and Ireland in our Suicide Statistics factsheets.

Samaritans has seen the direct effect of the coronavirus pandemic on people’s wellbeing in the UK and Ireland. Over the year since restrictions began in March 2020, we conducted research to understand how coronavirus affected people who access our services. This involved analysis of anonymous data we routinely collect about our calls and emails, as well as surveys of our volunteers.

Gambling can expose anyone to harms that contribute to the risk of suicide. Samaritans is undertaking a programme of work around suicide and gambling-related harms.

We have developed practical guidance for gambling operators on reducing the risk of gambling related suicide. Use the link below to read our guidelines now.

We spoke to less well-off men across the UK and Ireland through a series of co-design workshops. With them, we explored which activities and initiatives might support men’s wellbeing before they reach a crisis point. This helped us to develop a handbook with key principles of what a good initiative should be aiming for. Read our handbook using the link below.

We commissioned a study to measure the impact of the telephone helpline and find out what difference it makes to callers’ lives.

The study was carried out with the help of 104 Samaritans volunteers from 24 branches, who recruited callers to take part in the study. You can read the full report and executive summary below, alongside an infographic summary of the report.

We conducted in-depth surveys and interviews with people of all ages who have lived experience of self-harm to understand the types of support they seek and what can be done to help them better. See our reports and recommendations for England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales below.

Samaritans provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, chaired by Liz Twist MP.

The group has recently carried out an inquiry into the support available for young people who self-harm. You can read the group's findings and recommendations below.

Through in-depth interviews with 16 men across the UK and Ireland, we explored the events which lead them to crisis point and what they wanted from support services when struggling.

Samaritans’ key policies for election candidates

Find out more about Samaritans' five main policy calls for candidates in the 2019 General Election.

Unlocking the evidence: Understanding Suicide in Prisons

Our report analyses data from Samaritans' Listener scheme and prisons helpline, as well as wider literature on the reasons behind the high rate of suicide in prisons (December 2019).

Samaritans welcomes NICE quality standards on suicide prevention

Samaritans inputted in the drafting of the standard, covering guidelines for preventing suicide in community and custodial settings, as well as helping people bereaved or affected by suicide (September 2019).

Read our reaction to the NICE quality standards here.

New quality standards for suicide prevention in England (consultation)

Our response to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence’s consultation on quality standards for suicide prevention sets out the issues we think should be focused on (June 2019).

Local suicide prevention plans in England

Our joint report with the University of Exeter is the first ever nation-wide view of suicide prevention planning within local authorities in England (May 2019).

Strengthening the frontline

Our joint report with the Centre for Mental Health explores the role of GP services in helping people who are at risk of suicide (April 2019).

Suicide, loneliness and young people

Our report finds there is an association between loneliness and suicide and sets out the policies that are needed to change this (January 2019).

Read a summary and download the Loneliness, suicide and young people report.

Suicide prevention in England

Our response to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s inquiry on suicide prevention sets out where good progress has been made and identifies the areas where changes are still needed (January 2019).

New quality standards for suicide prevention in England (stakeholder engagement)

Our response to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence’s stakeholder engagement on quality standards for suicide prevention (November 2018).

Suicide prevention in schools

Our response to the Government’s consultation on health and relationships in the curriculum sets out the suicide prevention work we’re doing in schools and how this should be integrated in the curriculum (October 2018).

Mental health and the Five Year Forward View in England

Our response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health’s inquiry on the Government’s mental health plans sets out the areas where progress has been made and where changes are still needed (June 2018).

Internet safety, suicide and self-harm

Our response to the Government’s consultation on internet safety and online harms sets out our research into this issue and our recommendations for change (December 2017).

Internet use and safety online

We carried out this research with Bristol University explores how people with suicidal feelings use the internet, and its impact on their suicidal behaviour.

Read a summary of our research with Bristol University and download the report here.