By KLTV Newsdesk –

Charity launches free one-hour training course to help communities save lives

More than one in four people in Yorkshire (27%) say they or a family member have been directly affected by suicide, according to new data released by SOS Silence of Suicide.

The charity says the findings highlight the urgent need for everyday suicide prevention skills within local communities.

Yorkshire Figures Mirror a Wider UK Crisis

Across the UK, Northern Ireland reported the highest rate of impact at 39%, followed by Wales (33%), England (30%) and Scotland (29%).

The survey also uncovered a stark generational divide.

Nearly half (46%) of 18–24-year-olds across the UK said suicide has touched their lives, double the figure among those aged 55 and over (23%).

SOS says these statistics underline the importance of equipping people of all ages to spot early signs of distress.

Free Training Aims to Empower the Public

In response, SOS is urging people across Yorkshire and beyond to take its new free mental health training course, OPEN Conversations, created to give anyone the confidence and tools to support someone who may be at risk of suicide.

The charity stresses that suicide prevention often begins long before a crisis point is reached. Everyday interactions, at home, work or in the community, may offer the first clues that someone is struggling.

By encouraging people to recognise these moments, SOS hopes to ensure help reaches those who need it as early as possible.

OPEN Conversations teaches participants how to notice when someone may be overwhelmed, respond with assurance instead of fear, and offer crucial support,  with no previous experience or expertise required.

‘Prevention is everyone’s responsibility’

Lorna Hackett, Trustee at SOS Silence of Suicide, said: “These figures are heartbreaking. It shows us that for too many people in Yorkshire, suicide is not a distant tragedy but a devastating reality. Too many lives are being lost too soon.

“SOS has been fighting the silence and stigma of speaking about suicide for 10 years, and we are now saying clearly that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility.

“We must rethink how we respond. We want to change the narrative so that checking in, caring and noticing the signs become everyday actions, not specialist skills.”

Lorna continued: “You don’t need to be a mental health professional to save a life. Sometimes, all it takes is being willing to have an uncomfortable conversation, to ask the difficult questions and to listen without judgement. OPEN Conversations enables people to do exactly that.

“This course can be completed in a lunch break – it only takes up to one hour – and will give you the confidence that could interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and change their trajectory forever. The silence is quite literally killing us; conversation is the medicine.”

Marking a Decade of Tackling Stigma

In its 10th anniversary year, SOS continues its mission to challenge stigma, support people in crisis and equip communities with practical tools to help others.

The OPEN Conversations course is free and available now through the charity’s website: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/

The survey was carried out by Censuswide in October 2025, using a nationally representative sample of 3,000 UK adults.