10 September 2026
Every year on 10 September, World Suicide Prevention Day brings people around the world together to raise awareness about suicide, challenge stigma and encourage more open and supportive conversations.This year, we wanted to start by listening.
As part of the What I Wish People Knew campaign, we invited three people with lived experience to share their stories. In their own words, they explain what they wish others had understood when they were struggling.
Their experiences are personal and different. They speak about distress that was not always visible, feeling like a burden, shame and stigma, the difficulty of speaking openly, and the people and moments of connection that helped them feel supported.
Through three short animated videos using their real voices, Lena, Rebecca and Matt share parts of their experiences in the hope of helping others better understand what can sit behind suicidal thoughts — and what compassionate support can look like.
Changing the narrative starts with listening
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024–2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. It calls for a shift away from silence and stigma towards openness, understanding and support. The theme encourages individuals, communities and institutions to create space for honest conversations. These conversations can help increase understanding of suicide and suicidal behaviour.
For GAMIAN-Europe, the voices of people with lived experience need to be part of that change.
There is no single experience of suicidality, and no single form of support that works for everyone. Lena, Rebecca and Matt each share a personal perspective on experiences that are still too often difficult to talk about. Each story is given its own space to be heard.
We are deeply grateful to all three for trusting us with their experiences.
A continued commitment to suicide prevention
Suicide prevention has been an ongoing area of work for GAMIAN-Europe. Each year, we have sought to explore different experiences of suicidality and develop resources informed by people with lived experience.
Our previous work includes:
- Suicide Prevention in Young Men, which brought together lived-experience workshops, an interactive toolkit and testimonial videos to explore suicide stigma and suicidal ideation among young men.
- Exploring Suicidality in LGBTQIA+ People, developed through lived-experience workshops and resulting in a digital toolkit, testimonial videos and a policy statement on the experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ communities.
- Addressing Suicidality in Older People Across Europe, which brought together research, lived-experience perspectives and policy recommendations to highlight the specific factors affecting older people.
- Workplace Stress and Suicide, our 2025 initiative, which developed a Workplace Suicide Prevention Toolkit and Infographic to support healthier and more supportive working environments.
These resources remain available alongside this year’s campaign, because changing the narrative is not something that happens on one awareness day. It requires continuing to listen, challenge assumptions and make it easier for people to speak and access support.
For more information on GAMIAN-Europe’s ongoing projects and initiatives, please follow it on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
If you are new here, please read what we do.