Ripples of Despair -  Shining a light on the impact of lives lost to alcohol, drugs, and suicide (2024)

The conditions in which we live, learn, work and age, are shaped by social, economic and political factors (33). Changes to these factors can significantly impact our health. For instance, suicide rates often rise during times of economic recession, as financial insecurity and job losses increase stress and feelings of hopelessness (30,34). Policies such as austerity measures, interest rate hikes and cuts to public services place additional pressure on those already facing socioeconomic disadvantage. Families struggling to make ends meet may face the risk of homelessness, food insecurity, and other challenges that contribute to mental distress. These stressful life events not only worsen mental health but also increase the risk of suicide (30,34).

Media landscape 

While the online world can provide valuable resources for connection and support, it also poses significant risks. Social media can expose vulnerable individuals to harmful content, including material that glorifies self-harm or provides information about suicide methods (35,36). A recent study found that 83% of people had encountered self-harm or suicide content on social media without actively searching for it, with 75% first seeing this content at age 14 or younger (36).

Young people are particularly at risk, as they may be influenced by celebrities and influencers who normalise risky behaviours like substance use. This can harm mental health and increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts or behaviours (37).

There has been emerging evidence of the link between the online environment and suicide across all age groups, with suicide-related internet use featuring in 8% of suicides by people accessing mental health services between 2011 and 2022 in the UK (38). This includes accessing information on suicide method, visiting pro-suicide websites and communicating suicidal intent online. These people were most often aged 25-44 years (42%) and aged 45-64 (33%) whilst 18% were under 25 (38).

There is growing awareness of the role the online world plays in self-harm and suicide (39). The Online Safety Act 2023 aims to create safer online spaces by making it illegal to promote or encourage serious self-harm (40). Additionally, organisations like Samaritans have created guidelines to promote responsible reporting of suicide in the media, aiming to reduce further harm (41,42).