Suicide is the act of a person consciously (willingly) ending their own life.

It is the second biggest cause of death in 15-24 year olds in the UK, after road accidents. It is more common amongst young men but it affects lots of girls too.

Every year, about 24,000 young people aged between 10 and 19, attempt to take their own lives. That’s one person every twenty minutes. Every day there are 17 deaths by suicide, and most cases go unreported.

Suicide is a big issue that affects a lot of people, yet because it is such a taboo and complex subject, it’s not really talked about. It can be difficult to understand why someone would want to end their own life, so there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about suicide.

If you, or someone you know is feeling suicidal, they will be feeling very afraid and not sure who to turn to.

Don’t dismiss expressions of hopelessness as a "cry for help" or try to jolly them out of it. Those who talk about their suicidal feelings often do attempt suicide.

It is a mistake to think that if someone has a history of making these ‘cries for help’, then they won’t do it for real. Someone who has attempted suicide once is 100 times more likely to do so again. Around four out of ten people who take their own lives will have attempted to do so earlier.

Talking openly about the possibility of suicide will not make it more likely to happen.

Just being there for the person and listening in an accepting way can help them feel less isolated and frightened. Giving someone the opportunity to explore their worst feelings and fears could provide them with a lifeline when they are most in need of it. Often, people who are suicidal feel that way for a limited period of time. Emotional support can help them through a crisis, and potentially save lives.