“While suicide prevention should be addressed throughout the year, World Suicide Prevention Day highlights the importance of collective action. As individuals, we can regularly check in on family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances – engaging in meaningful conversation and active listening without judgement.

Employers can further contribute in a number of ways, including by implementing mental health training programmes, supporting employee wellbeing, and fostering an organisational culture in which staff feel secure discussing mental health concerns without stigma or fear of negative consequences, confident that appropriate support will be available and signposted as needed.

“Sadly, the group risk industry knows just how important providing support is: data from GRiD’s Claims Survey 2025 shows that insurers paid 345 claims for suicide under Group Life Assurance policies in 2024.

While the financial support payable after a suicide is a help for a loved one’s dependants, the industry also gives access to much that can play an active role in preventing suicide, including help for businesses, line managers, HRs and employees, such as early intervention, treatment, fast access to talking therapies, signposting to mental health first aid training, plus ongoing regular support and contact.

“There’s undoubtedly a real need to talk more openly about suicide and to change the narrative, so that people see it as preventable and avoidable, and so that everyone is able to support someone who is struggling”

Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRID