World Suicide Prevention Day: Changing the Narrative In Ireland

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September. In Ireland, the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is leading this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, alongside partners including Shine and in line with the global campaign. The theme calls for open, hopeful conversations that reduce stigma and encourage earlier help-seeking.

If you or someone you know needs urgent help

Call 999 or 112 and ask for an ambulance if someone is at immediate risk. You can also go to your nearest Emergency Department.

National Supports – Free to Contact

• HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line: 1800 111 888, available any time. Information and signposting to HSE and HSE-funded supports nationwide. Not a counselling line.

• Samaritans: 116 123, 24/7 confidential listening service. Email jo@samaritans.ie also available.

• Text About It – 50808: Free 24/7 text support service. Text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer.

• Pieta: 1800 247 247, 24/7 crisis helpline. Text HELP to 51444. Free counselling for people at risk of suicide or self-harm, and for those bereaved by suicide.

• Aware: 1800 80 48 48, open 10:00–22:00 daily. Support for depression, bipolar and mood-related difficulties for adults and families.

• Childline (under-18s): 1800 66 66 66. Free phone, webchat and text support for children and young people via ISPCC.

• LGBT Ireland National Helpline: 1800 929 539. Support for LGBTQI+ people, families and allies, with details of other channels on the official site.

• Bereavement after suicide: The HSE bereavement hub lists nationwide supports. HUGG provides peer suicide-bereavement support groups and resources.

• Your GP / Out-of-hours GP / Emergency Department: These remain core routes to urgent assessment and care.

National policy context

Ireland’s suicide-reduction strategy Connecting for Life ran from 2015 to 2024. A new national strategy is now in development, due for completion by the end of 2025. Implementation and coordination are led by the HSE NOSP.

Latest official numbers

The HSE NOSP Annual Report 2024 summarises Central Statistics Office (CSO) registered data and explains how Irish figures are revised over time:

• 2023: 302 suicide deaths registered (provisional).

• 2024: 351 registered to date (provisional).

These figures are provisional until CSO finalised tables are published.

For non-fatal self-harm, the official source is the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland (NSRF), which records presentations to hospital Emergency Departments. Its most recent reports track national and regional trends.

Training and prevention actions

The HSE is highlighting “Let’s Talk About Suicide”, a free online e-learning course that takes around 60 minutes to complete. It helps people build confidence to ask about suicide safely and to signpost help.

Further training programmes offered include:

• safeTALK

• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

• Understanding Self-Harm

• Suicide Bereavement Workshops

Details of these programmes are available on the HSE website.

HSE message

John Meehan, HSE Assistant National Director Access and Integration and Head of the National Office for Suicide Prevention, said:

“Sadly hundreds of people lose their lives to suicide in Ireland each year, it can affect every one of us. By raising awareness and encouraging a culture of compassion, openness and support, we can help to reduce silence, related stigma, and help save lives.

The HSE is proud to provide free, accessible online training, Let’s Talk About Suicide, which empowers people with the knowledge and skills to talk about suicide safely. The training takes just 60 minutes, and I’d encourage people to sign up today. Whether in personal or professional settings, each and every one of us can play a part in helping reduce suicide in our communities.”

Global and Irish statistics

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, making it the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds worldwide. Seventy-three per cent of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

In Ireland, the CSO confirms that hundreds of people die by suicide each year, with comprehensive tables available up to 2021. More recent data is published in provisional registered form, as noted above.