HSE Marks World Suicide Prevention Day With Call To Reach Out And Talk

The HSE is calling on people across Ireland to take practical steps to support suicide prevention as organisations and communities around the world mark World Suicide Prevention Day today, 10 September 2026.

This year's campaign focuses on the power of connection, encouraging people to reach out to others, have safe conversations about suicide and self-harm, and build their confidence and knowledge through the HSE's award-winning, free online Let's Talk About Suicide training programme.

This follows the recent publication of Ireland's Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm: Connecting for Life 2026–2035. The new national strategy sets out a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to reducing suicide and self-harm, with a strong focus on prevention, reducing stigma, improving supports for people in distress, strengthening postvention services, and building the evidence needed to drive effective action.

Sarah Toye, HSE National Clinical Advisor with the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), said:

"Sadly, suicide and self-harm continue to affect individuals, families and communities across Ireland. Importantly, help is available and recovery is possible. No one should feel they have to face difficult times alone.

World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us that each of us has a role to play in creating a culture where people feel able to seek help, talk openly and find support when they need it.

The publication of Connecting for Life 2026–2035 marks an important milestone in Ireland's response to suicide and self-harm… A central part of this work is empowering people to have safe conversations and recognise when someone may be struggling.

The HSE is proud to provide free, accessible online training through Let's Talk About Suicide. In just 60 minutes, participants can gain valuable knowledge and practical skills that can help them feel more confident recognising signs of distress and supporting someone to access help… We know that talking, listening and connecting people with support can make a real difference. Every conversation has the potential to help someone feel less alone and more able to access the help they need."

World Suicide Prevention Day, held annually each September, is coordinated by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). The campaign aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage meaningful conversations about suicide and self-harm. The day highlights the important role that connection, community and early intervention can play in suicide prevention.

The scale of what the day marks is stark. Over 500 people die by suicide each year in Ireland, according to the Central Statistics Office, which has published more complete suicide statistics up to 2022. Globally, more than 720,000 people die due to suicide every year, according to the World Health Organisation, which lists suicide as the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds, with seventy-three per cent of global suicides occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The reasons are multi-faceted, influenced by social, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental factors present across the life-course, and for every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide, with a prior attempt an important risk factor for suicide in the general population.

The HSE's free online Let's Talk About Suicide training programme supports this work by empowering people to have safe and supportive conversations about suicide and helping them recognise signs of distress in others.

The HSE has also set out further practical steps. Taking time to connect with loved ones and people around you matters, as a simple check-in can bring hope and make a real difference. Speaking with kindness and empathy when talking about suicide is important too, as everyone affected, whether they've lost someone or struggled themselves, deserves dignity and respect.

Staying safe online matters as well: sharing information about suicide or self-harm responsibly and supportively helps create a safer, more sensitive online space for everyone. Signing up for Let's Talk About Suicide is encouraged as a way to build suicide prevention skills, learn how to spot signs of distress, and support someone who may be struggling.

Familiarising yourself with local and national supports and services is recommended, as knowing where to turn can make a meaningful difference. Yourmentalhealth.ie has information on mental health services and supports, and yourmentalhealth.ie/men has specific free counselling and supports for men.

Further suicide prevention training programmes from the HSE are also available, including safeTALK, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Understanding Self-harm, and Suicide Bereavement Workshops. Find out more about these programmes in your area on the HSE website.

The HSE is asking that the topic always be approached with care and compassion, and that sensitive, non-stigmatising language be used whenever people talk or write about suicide. Further guidance is available from the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention.