World Suicide Prevention Day

Breaking Silence, Demanding Change

On 10 September, the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) was launched in 2003 with the World Health Organisation (WHO). It exists to show one clear truth: suicide is preventable.
In the UK, the scale is stark. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 7,055 deaths by suicide in 2023. Three-quarters were men. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50. These are not just numbers. Each figure represents a life cut short, a family broken, and a community left grieving.

Changing the Narrative

The theme for 2024–2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” It challenges us to replace silence and stigma with openness and hope.
Across the UK, WSPD brings together action:

Charity campaigns: Samaritans, Papyrus, Rethink Mental Illness, and Mind lead awareness drives.
Community vigils: People light candles and illuminate landmarks as part of “Creating Hope Through Light.”
Education: Free training equips workplaces, schools, and universities to spot warning signs and act early.
These initiatives matter. However, prevention work must also reach groups whose risks often remain hidden — including people with chronic pain.

Trigeminal Neuralgia and Suicide Prevention

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is one of the most painful conditions known to medicine. It causes sudden, electric-shock pain across the face, triggered by everyday actions such as eating, talking, or feeling a breeze.
Over time, people have called TN by a grim nickname: “the suicide disease.”
At TNA UK, we dislike the term. It frightens patients and reduces them to despair. Yet we cannot avoid it. Doctors use it in literature, journalists use it in headlines, and patients use it in conversations. The name reflects the truth that untreated or misunderstood pain can drive people into hopelessness.

Why We Confront the Nickname

We talk about the phrase for three reasons:

Seriousness: TN is not “just a toothache.” Years of misdiagnosis leave people suffering without help.
Risk in chronic pain: WHO and NHS evidence confirm that long-term pain increases suicide risk. TN ranks among the most severe pain disorders, so ignoring it endangers lives.
Demand for change: Acknowledging the nickname strengthens calls for earlier diagnosis, better NHS pathways, and integrated mental health care.
Therefore, silence helps no one. Speaking directly creates space for action.

Members told me …

“The nickname ‘suicide disease’ makes me angry, but it’s how I’ve felt in my darkest moments.”
This voice, and many others, show why suicide prevention must recognise the impact of chronic pain.

We struggle with the nickname “suicide disease.” It is painful and stigmatising, yet we cannot escape it. On World Suicide Prevention Day, we must face the truth: suicide prevention must include chronic pain. Silence costs lives.

Suicide Risk and Chronic Pain

Suicide rarely has one cause. Trauma, economic stress, and mental illness all play roles. Chronic pain adds another layer of risk, yet national prevention plans often ignore it.
For TN patients, prevention means:

Faster access to specialists, without years of waiting.
Mental health support is included in pain services.
Community understanding that validates invisible suffering.
One survey respondent explained: “It isn’t just the pain that nearly broke me. It was not being believed.” This shows why change must be urgent.

Support and Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is here:

Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7).
Papyrus HOPELINEUK: 0800 068 4141 (for under-35s).
Mind: Mental health resources and advice.
Rethink Mental Illness: Services for people affected by severe illness.
TNA UK: Helpline, peer support groups, and resources for TN and facial pain. 0800 999 1899

From Silence to Change

World Suicide Prevention Day is about more than remembrance. It is about truth. TN still carries the label “the suicide disease.” We dislike it, but we cannot escape it. By confronting it, we demand change.
In my words:
“We dislike the nickname ‘suicide disease’, but silence will not save lives. Speaking the truth, however difficult, just might.” — Aneeta Prem MBE
Suicide prevention must include chronic pain. Mental health care must stand alongside medical treatment. Patients must be believed, diagnosed earlier, and treated with dignity.
Suicide is preventable. Chronic pain must not be left out of the conversation. Together, we can change the narrative and save lives.

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay #TrigeminalNeuralgia #TNawareness #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicPain #ChangeTheNarrative #WSPD2025 @aneetaprem