Samaritans Awareness Day – Thursday 24th July 2025
‘TALK TO US’ MONTH 24/7SAMARITANS AWARENESS DAY 2025
The above date is chosen because of the pledge to listen 24/7. The Samaritans have proven for many years that they are a lifeline for many, offering a listening ear and confidential support for anyone struggling to cope. Throughout July, the Talk to Us campaign highlights the importance of talking about mental health issues and encourages people to reach out for help whenever they need it. Follow this link for further information: Samaritans Awareness Day
The Samaritans is a charity that prevents suicide through human connection.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) recently opened a public consultation for a new British Standard on suicide awareness. The public consultation ran for 8 weeks, closing on 16th July 2025. The British Standards Institution is the UK’s National Standards Body who work with many different stakeholders to develop British, European and international standards. The BSI will be releasing the UK’s first standard in late 2025 (BS 30480) which will be dedicated to suicide awareness and education. It will provide comprehensive guidelines to help organisations plan for, respond to, and support people affected by suicide.
This landmark initiative is welcomed and comes amid growing recognition of the mental health crisis in the UK. There remains an urgent need, however, for structured and compassionate responses from employers.
The CWU has now responded to the BSI consultation after surveying over 100 CWU trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders). The findings of our CWU survey highlighted the following:
- 85% of our surveyed CWU MHFAiders have provided mental health support more than once in the last 12 months.
- 39% of our surveyed CWU MHFAiders have provided emergency support to a colleague in a mental health crisis in the last 12 months.
- 3% percent of our surveyed CWU MHFAiders believe that the impact of suicide is not well understood by their employer.
- 3% of our surveyed CWU MHFAiders have provided support to someone outside of normal work hours in the last 12 months.
Today and every day, every 10 seconds, Samaritans answer a call for help.
In November 1953, the first ever call was answered to what was to become the Samaritans’ helpline. This single act of humanity became a service involving tens of thousands of Samaritans who together over the years have answered more than 134 million calls for help.
There are over 200 Samaritans branches and locations across the UK and Ireland.
The Samaritans regularly undertake work in prisons, schools, hospitals and on the rail network to support people going through difficult times and train others to do the same.
Recent Samaritans policy and research can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
Policy and Research | Samaritans
Samaritans Awareness Day – 24/7social media materials can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
Downloadable Materials | Talk To Us Campaign | Samaritans Campaigns
This LTB is shared on behalf of CWU Central Services.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact –
Jamie McGovern, FRSPH MIIAI at jmcgovern@cwu.org.
LTB 150/25 – SAMARITANS TALK TO US AWARENESS DAY 24 7 pdf version
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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