Suicide awareness and prevention with the UK's Baton of Hope

Baton of Hope UK is a charity with a clear vision: a zero-suicide society.

Mike McCarthy, a retired journalist, lost his son, Ross, to suicide in February 2021. Mike connected with Steve Phillip, who lost his son Jordan to suicide in December 2019, on social media. Despite their grief, the men were determined to inspire hope for others facing the same despair their sons had endured. Channelling their loss into action, they became passionate advocates for reforming suicide prevention policy in the UK and co-founding Baton of Hope.

Launched in 2023, the Baton of Hope tour invites bereaved families and suicide survivors to carry a symbolic baton through their hometowns, sparking vital conversations about suicide. A second initiative, the Workplace Pledge, was introduced to ensure employers take meaningful responsibility for suicide prevention and support within the workplace.

Aleido were commissioned by Gravitas Medical Solutions, who deliver suicide prevention training on the charity’s behalf, to convert their existing face-to-face workplace workshops into 40 minutes of responsive, self-paced e-learning to meet a growing demand for training on this topic.

You can read more about the solution we created here.

As an instructional designer, this has been the most rewarding and, at times the most challenging, project of my career. I’ll admit I became overwhelmed on more than one occasion during the research and writing stage (endless thanks to my colleagues for their support), but that’s why it’s so important to keep sharing this message and giving everyone the knowledge to help stop the biggest killer of men under 50 and women under 35.

It’s a subject that affects most, if not all of us at some point in our lives. I’ve certainly had my own experiences with it, making me even more eager to do a good job. As a replacement for what would have been face to face discussions, I crafted three conversations between fictional characters that aimed to illustrate the warning signs, things to say and things to avoid, and what to do once you establish that someone is feeling suicidal.

Writing the dialogue for each scenario meant briefly stepping into the shoes of someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, and of the person trying to support them. I don’t claim to know what that feels like, nor was that the goal. Instead, each scenario was designed as a tool to convey action and hope: to show that there are reasons to stay, and that there are meaningful ways to reach out to someone in crisis.

The message, true to its name, is about hope: hope for anyone feeling trapped in a dark place, and hope for those who want to help. We all have the power to make a difference. We can all find the light. Every conversation is a chance to save a life.

Reducing the stigma

While society has worked hard to end the taboo around a lot of subjects, we’re still not talking enough about suicide and mental wellbeing. It’s a difficult topic to bring up in conversation and we often feel it will bring the mood down or make things awkward. However, talking openly about suicide is an important step in preventing it from taking someone you love.

As the co-founders of the Baton of Hope, Mike and Steve express so passionately, suicide prevention is about talking and especially listening. In the UK, we’re known for responding to the question ‘How are you?’ with a polite but empty, ‘Fine, and you?’ What if we were to answer each other truthfully? At home, at work, at the gym? What if we really sit down and have those challenging conversations? If we could normalise talking about mental health, especially for men, then maybe we can open the door to support and hope for someone silently struggling.

A supportive company culture starts with us

I’ve been fortunate to land in a creative industry, where talking openly and honestly is encouraged and where my colleagues and I are all willing to support each other, both in and out of the workplace. Not everyone is this fortunate, and not every company culture I’ve experienced has been like this (most haven’t). This is why we should all take on some individual responsibility to check in regularly with our colleagues and find out how they’re really doing.

As an introvert, I know how hard this can be: reaching out does not come naturally to me. But I also know how many times I’ve had the door to a conversation about my wellbeing opened for me and how taking that gesture has led to personal growth and stronger relationships. I’d like to pay that generosity forward whenever I can.

Despite ever advancing technology, we live in an increasingly disconnected world. Working full time from home, I am all too aware of this. We all need community, and for those to whom it doesn’t come ready made, we can all make an effort to expand our own communities, or create new ones, and welcome others in.

Building and maintaining community at work

If you don’t already have one, try reaching out to your manager or HR about starting an Employee Wellbeing Taskforce that meets on a regular basis to plan activities and act as a forum for employees to raise concerns. You could also consider joining, or starting, an Employee Social Committee to run events and encourage peer to peer networking. Even engaging with your workplace Yammer page or online forum can help you meet likeminded colleagues.

A community can be as small as two people so, if all the above feels overwhelming, see if you can make at least one work friend and find some time each week to catch up. It doesn’t have to be in person if, like me, that’s not an option for you.

When we look out for each other and prioritise connection, we create a safe space where everyone feels supported, and help is always within reach.

Suicide awareness and prevention

While not everyone will display them, there are some warning signs to watch out for that may indicate someone is at risk of suicide. We cover these in the first of two 20-minute e-learning modules for Baton of Hope.

The second module will guide you through approaching conversations about suicide. Talking to someone at risk of suicide can feel overwhelming, but your compassion and presence can make a real difference.

To find out more about the Suicide Awareness and Prevention e-learning, reach out to Baton of Hope directly or visit the Baton of Hope website, where you can download some helpful resources and sign the Workplace Pledge to help make suicide prevention everyone’s business.

help AND SUPPORT

If you or someone you know is struggling, there are plenty of options to find help or support. Call 999 if it’s an emergency or 111 (option 2) to connect with the free mental health crisis response service, available 24/7.

You can also reach out to any of these helplines: