Suicide “impacting nearly one in two young adults”, survey shows 

Almost half of young adults say they, or a family member, have been affected by suicide, according to a national survey from the charity, SOS Silence of Suicide. 

The findings show that 46 per cent of respondents aged 18–24 have been impacted, twice the rate recorded among people aged 55 and over (23 per cent). The survey asked participants whether they or a family member had been affected by suicide, revealing a clear generational divide. 

Regional differences were also identified. Northern Ireland reported the highest impact, with 39 per cent of people of all ages saying they or a family member had been affected. This compares with 33 per cent in Wales, 30 per cent in England and 29 per cent in Scotland. 

Across England, the North West recorded the highest level of impact (38 per cent), followed by Greater London (34 per cent). The North East, South East and Yorkshire & the Humber reported the joint lowest rates at 27 per cent. 

In response, SOS is urging the public to take its free OPEN Conversations training, which aims to give people the confidence and skills to support someone who may be struggling. 

The charity says suicide prevention must begin long before someone reaches a crisis point. Its training teaches people to recognise signs of distress, respond without fear and offer support, without requiring any prior expertise. 

Lorna Hackett, Trustee at SOS Silence of Suicide, commented: 

“These figures are heartbreaking. It shows us that for too many young people in the UK, suicide is not a distant tragedy but a devastating reality. And they are far from alone – three in ten people of all ages told us they have experienced this same heartbreak in their families. Behind every one of these numbers is a life 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. 

“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 its 10th anniversary, SOS has spent a decade challenging stigma and supporting those in crisis. OPEN Conversations is available to complete now via the charity’s website: https://silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk/courses/free-mental-health-training/

The survey was conducted by Censuswide in October 2025 with a nationally representative sample of 3,000 UK adults.