On World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September 2025), Isobel Shea from Understanding Minds urges Milton Keynes businesses to play a vital role in saving lives.
Please read with care – suicide is referenced in this article.
You don't have to be an expert to save someone's life. This simple truth lies at the heart of World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on 10th September every year as part of Suicide Awareness Month.
The statistics are staggering. In the UK, one in five people experience thoughts of suicide at some point in their life, and one in fifteen will attempt suicide during their lifetime. Suicide remains the biggest killer of people under 35 and men under 50.
Here in Milton Keynes, these statistics represent our loved ones, colleagues, and community members. On average, 25 people die by suicide in our city each year, contributing to the more than 6,000 people who took their own lives across the UK in 2023.
Yet stigma and silence continue to make it harder to reach those in crisis.
World Suicide Prevention Day isn't just about awareness - it's about action. The day exists to highlight that there are everyday things we can do, both individually and collectively, to reduce and prevent suicide.
This year's global theme, set by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, is 'Changing the Narrative on Suicide', with the powerful call to action to 'Start the Conversation'. It challenges us to think differently about suicide, not as a taboo topic or a person’s private struggle, but as something we can discuss openly, safely, and compassionately to prevent suicides.
Many of us spend more waking hours with colleagues than with our families. This makes workplaces a crucial frontline in suicide prevention. When employers invest in mental health training and wellbeing support, they're protecting their employees and business, as well as our entire community.
"Employers have a unique opportunity to create environments where people feel safe to seek help," says Isobel, a mental health professional and national mental health & suicide prevention tutor in Milton Keynes at Understanding Minds. "When we equip teams with the knowledge and confidence to recognise warning signs and respond appropriately, we can save lives. It's about moving beyond tick-box exercises and implementing sustainable changes, investing in evidence-based training to create genuine transformation."
The suicide prevention training Isobel delivers is fully accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health. She delivers suicide prevention courses designed for all, as well as specialised courses for those who work in industries that are most at risk, such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, financial services and those working with young people.
The evidence-based courses teach practical skills that anyone can learn. Participants discover how to recognise when someone might be experiencing thoughts of suicide, how to start conversations with empathy, and, importantly, how to connect people with appropriate professional support.
Isobel’s approach combines professional training credentials with years of experience working in frontline mental health and suicide prevention services. This real-world experience, alongside her personal journey with mental health illness and recovery, brings authentic insight to every training session.
For every business that invests in this training, there's a ripple effect into the wider community. Isobel extends her impact through partnerships with local schools by providing a free wellbeing workshop to a class of school children for every course booked by a company.
World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us that we all have a role to play – not just today, but every day. Whether you're an employer looking to support your team, a colleague concerned about someone at work, or an individual wanting to be better prepared to help others, we can all learn simple ways to intervene and save lives.
Together, we can build a future where talking about suicide is no longer a source of shame but a source of support. In Milton Keynes and beyond, every conversation matters, every person trained makes a difference, and every life is worth saving.
For more information about suicide prevention training and workplace wellbeing consultancy in Milton Keynes, visit www.understandingminds.co.uk or contact Isobel on info@understandingminds.co.uk.
If you or somebody else feels suicidal you can visit Milton Keynes Hospital for support. Or call the Milton Keynes Mental Health Services Single Point of Access Crisis Line, on 0800 0234 650, which offers emotional support and advice to people who require urgent mental health attention, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
