World Suicide Prevention Day 2026

Tuesday 01 September 2026

Kia ora whanau 

 World Suicide Prevention Day is on Thursday the 10th of September. The theme for 2024-2026 is Changing the Narrative on Suicide. The aim is to shift the narrative of suicide from a culture of silence and a lack of understanding to one of openness, empathy and support.

 

 There are many ways in which you can contribute to this Kaupapa

You can view the 2026 IASP WSPD Campaign Pack here.

E-mail Banner: Update your Microsoft Outlook to include the World Suicide Prevention Day banner at the end of your signature for the week. Visit the IASP website for more languages. 

 

 Light a Candle Event: Every year on World Suicide Prevention Day, people are encouraged to light a candle near a window at 8pm to show support for suicide prevention, to remember a loved one, and acknowledge those with lived and living experience of suicide and suicide bereavement. Find out more about the event here

If you are interested in events happening in your area, please contact Thomas Jenkin WellSouth Suicide Prevention Lead on 022 0177 982 or via email thomas.jenkin@wellsouth.org.nz 

 

 Social Media Tiles: IASP has created a number of social media assets which you can use on World Suicide Prevention Day, including: 

  • Hashtags: People are encouraged to use the hashtags #worldsuicidepreventionday #WSPD and WSPD2026 

  • Captions: Pre-written captions you can use on your social media posts  

  • Social Graphics: Tiles that you can post on your social media wall or stories 

  • Virtual Background: A virtual background that frames your profile photo on social media  

Find the resources you need for social media here

 

Move for Life: Move for life is a campaign that recognises that exercise has the power to change your mental state, improve your physical wellbeing and increase connection. 

This is a global event that takes place between World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and World Mental Health Day (10 October). Find out more here.  

You can enter as an individual or a team. Exercise includes any and all types of physical movement. Fundraising is optional. 

 

 Top 5 Tips 

1.Take disclosures of suicidal ideation and self-harm seriously. 

2. Discuss confidentiality and its limits early.

3. Provide resources alongside referrals, such as leaflets, links to online self-help, and community groups.

4. Organise follow-up care when appropriate, ideally with the same clinician.

5. Plan for continuous professional development on the topics of self-harm and suicide prevention. 

 

Useful Resources

1.The Manawa App for safety planning.  Manawa – My own survival plan is a suicide safety plan app which has been developed with people who have lived through suicidal thoughts and experiences, to help you find a way through. The App version of the personal safety plan was developed as a collaboration between the Mental Health Foundation and the Suicide Prevention team at Counties Manukau District Health Board.  You can download a pdf or interactive copy from here Manawa Survival Plan App | Mental Health Foundation 

2. Aoake Te Ra provide free therapeutic suicide bereavement support for anyone that has been impacted by suicide.  They provide this service nationwide in person, online or via the telephone.  You can contact them by phone on 0800 000 053 or via their website at www.aoaketera.org.nz  

3. Primary Care Outreach brief: The IASP provides outreach briefs that contain focused information on key considerations with suicide prevention research and interventions. See this link Primary Care Outreach Brief 2024-2026 for the brief on Primary Care outreach. Please use this link Mental Health and Wellbeing » WellSouth for local resources and services as the additional resources listed on this Outreach Brief are international.  You can access all 13 Outreach Briefs here Outreach Briefs - IASP. 

 

WellSouth Suicide Prevention & Postvention Team 

The Suicide Prevention Postvention Team is delivered by a small but passionate team within WellSouth to support suicide prevention and postvention in the Otago and Southland Region (everywhere from Waitaki to Bluff/Rakiura). 

We are: 

Our role is to support and collaborate on suicide prevention/postvention initiatives and activities across the Southern region.  This includes any stakeholder engaged in this mahi. General practices are a key focus of our work, supporting primary mental health services (across all 82 general practices across Otago and Southland) and direct contact for Postvention. 

Please reach out to any of our team if you wish to know more about our service, find out about useful resources or trainings, or if you are interested in collaborating on anything to prevent suicide or its impact in the Southland region. 

Kia pai te rā! 

The Suicide Prevention Postvention team (Thomas, Kerry & Roger) 

Read more about what we do here. 

View more news