Suicide Prevention Consortium

About the Suicide Prevention Consortium

WithYou is a founding member of the Suicide Prevention Consortium and leads the workstream on alcohol and suicide.

The Consortium is led by Samaritans and includes WithYou, National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) and Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP). 

The Consortium harnesses the collaborative efforts of its members to identify and prevent inequalities which lead to increased risk of suicide.

Funded by the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, it brings the expertise of the third sector and the voices of people with lived experience directly to policymakers, to improve suicide prevention in England. 

For more information about this project, email robin.pollard@wearewithyou.org.uk

Suicide prevention principles: from policy to practice 

Our 2025 report 'Suicide prevention principles: from policy to practice' supports implementation of the principles of no wrong door to accessing support, and person-centred care. 

With our partners in the Suicide Prevention Consortium, we call for policy makers and practitioners to take sustained and targeted action to improve care by: 

• Fostering collaboration: collaboration - between services, staff and people receiving support - must be at the heart of service design and delivery. Services need to work in a joined-up way, collaborating with each other and the people they support. This includes improving technology and ensuring data can be shared securely, as well as involving people with lived experience in design, implementation and evaluation of services. 
• Prioritising inclusion: services should take an inclusive, holistic approach, recognising individuality and the diverse ways people access support. A person's identity, background or specific needs must not be a barrier to accessing high quality care. Individuals should be empowered to make decisions and engage openly with healthcare professionals without fear of judgment. Accessible and culturally sensitive approaches are essential for building trust and ensuring meaningful support. 
• Raising staff awareness and building confidence: staff awareness should be raised, and ongoing training provided, to boost confidence in delivering compassionate, patient-centred care. It is also vital that good practice is recognised and celebrated - many practitioners are already delivering compassionate, inclusive care. The principles of 'no wrong door' and person-centred care should not, therefore, be presented as another new initiative. 
• Supporting the workforce: it is essential to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of staff, so they can effectively support people affected by suicide. Staff need time and space to reflect on their experiences of supporting people experiencing suicidality, as well as support to manage the impact of providing care. These are crucial for creating supportive environments for staff, minimising the potential impact of compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma, which impact both on the wellbeing of staff and on their ability to provide optimal care.