A Momentous Day for Suicide Prevention

On July 15th, we began an emotionally charged day sitting on the BBC Breakfast red sofa with Jon and Sally, talking about the new Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum for England.

Over the last four years, we’ve walked more than 1,500 miles across the UK. Along the way, we’ve raised over £1.5 million for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, spoken with thousands of people — many of them bereaved by suicide — and worked alongside civil servants, MPs, ministers, prime ministers, campaigners, academics and charities, all pushing for change.

Suicide is the biggest killer of under-35s in the UK. Most bereaved parents we’ve met only learned that after losing their child. Almost every one of them asked the same heartbreaking question:
"Why didn’t anybody tell them?"

We asked the government the same thing. If suicide is the biggest risk to our young people’s lives, why aren’t we talking to them about it — giving them the knowledge and understanding they need to cope and seek help?

After three and a half years of conversations and campaigning, change is happening.

Suicide prevention is being added to the school curriculum in England.

For the first time, schools will be expected to talk openly with pupils about suicide prevention — helping more young people speak up, seek help and find hope. You can read the full RSHE curriculum for England here: suicide prevention falls under Health and Wellbeing on page 25.

This is a huge step forward.
And it will save lives.

We’re proud to have played a part in making this happen. But this isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something even bigger.

We’ll keep walking:

·       To raise awareness.

·       To keep the conversation going.

·       To make sure suicide prevention is delivered safely in schools — with the right training and resources.

·       To push for the same curriculum change in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

And always, we walk to remember Sophie, Beth and Emily — and every young life that should still be here.

Thank you for walking with us.