Suicide prevention and self-harm support in Barnet

For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts and those supporting them

• StayAlive - Essential suicide prevention for everyday life is a UK suicide prevention app with safety strategies, support resources, and guidance for helping others
• Suicide Prevention Manual is a practical guide created by people with lived experience to help Barnet residents stay safe during suicidal thoughts
• Mind: How to cope with suicidal feelings booklet explains what suicidal feelings are, why they happen and how to cope both immediately and in the long-term.
• The truth about self-harm | Mental Health Foundation offers advice in self-harm, eating disorders, death or bereavement, personality disorders, anxiety, depression and substance abuse
• Mind: How to support someone who feels suicidal booklet provides information on how to help and where to seek support
• Groundswell Coping with Suicidal Thoughts offers practical tips and grounding techniques to manage suicidal thoughts and find help

For anyone who has witnessed suicide

• First Hand booklet provides information on understanding and coping with emotions after witnessing a suicide

For anyone experienced suicide bereavement

• Help is at Hand booklet provides emotional and practical support after losing someone to suicide.
• NCL Support After Suicide Service is a service offering emotional and practical support for people bereaved by suicide across north central London
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) is a national charity providing peer support for those affected by suicide loss

For organisations, businesses, faith communities if someone died by suicide in their settings

• Coping After Suicide Guidance for Barnet offers guidance for local organisations on supporting communities after a suicide
• Suicide Postvention in the Workplace is a practical guide for employers on responding to suicide in the workplace
• NHS suicide prevention toolkit is a toolkit for healthcare professionals to prevent suicide and support those affected

Suicide is a complex issue, often linked to feelings of hopelessness. Its impact is devastating, not just for families and friends, but for schools, workplaces, and communities.

Key facts:

• In the UK, someone dies by suicide every 90 minutes.
• Around five young people take their lives each day.
• Barnet’s suicide rate is lower than London and England, but every life matters.

Our goal is to create a community where people feel safe to talk about suicide and ask for help. Everyone can play a part.

What you can do:

• you don’t need to be a professional to help
• most people feel suicidal only for a short time, support can save lives
• if someone talks about suicide, take it seriously. Listen and reassure them
• asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not increase risk, it often brings relief
• use supportive language
  • “died by/death by suicide” or “lost their life to suicide”, instead of saying “commit/committed suicide” because such language makes the act of dying by suicide sounds like a sin or crime.
  • Use terms like “died by suicide/survived a suicide attempt” or “fatal/non-fatal suicide attempt”, instead of “successful/unsuccessful” or “completed/failed” which can make the situation seem like an accomplishment or failure.

Important:
People bereaved by suicide are at higher risk. Connecting them to bereavement support is vital.

We work together to make Barnet a safer, more supportive place for everyone. The Partnership brings together local organisations, including the Council, NHS, police, fire service, schools, community and faith groups, and people with lived experience.

Our goal is to deliver Barnet’s Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2030).

What we do:

• meet quarterly to share knowledge and track progress
• develop strategies to support those most at risk
• promote the Making Every Contact Count approach across services

By working together, we can reduce suicides and create a community where people feel able to talk and seek help.

Want to join us?

Email: Seher.Kayikci@barnet.gov.uk to join.

This group is open to people above 18 who live, work or study in Barnet and who:

• have experienced or live with suicidal thoughts
• have made a suicide attempt
• have lost someone close to suicide
• carer of someone with experience of suicidality
• engaged in self-harm
• have experience of suicide as a professional

The Lived Experience Group contributes to suicide prevention efforts in Barnet by sharing their personal or collective experiences, insights and ideas.

Participation is entirely voluntary, and members can engage at a level they feel comfortable with.

Email: Seher.Kayikci@barnet.gov.uk to join.