Today's Taboos: Silenced Suicidal Thoughts

Update on Thursday 4 September: Tube and DLR strikes are planned for the day of our event, which may make travel trickier, but we’re still going ahead and we’d love to see you there! Scroll down to see the latest advice.

Todays Taboos: Silenced Suicidal Thoughts

Talking about suicidal thoughts is key to preventing suicide. Yet stigma associated with these thoughts makes it hard for those experiencing them to open up safely. Additionally, many who want to support loved ones fear raising the topic due to myths about the risks of talking about suicidal thoughts.

Silencing hides complex circumstances in which feelings of hopelessness can arise - anyone could reach a point where they might experience these thoughts. Not everyone who experiences suicidal thoughts has a mental health condition, and impacting factors include health conditions, poverty, rejection and inequality of opportunity. The taboo can be heightened for people whose identities or communities are rooted in ideas of strength and reject vulnerability, such as men or members of the Black African or Caribbean communities.

Small actions can have a big impact. Voicing suicidal thoughts is important in finding people the right help, and preventing suicide.

What will happen at the event?

The event will feature a panel discussion which will look beyond the general stigma surrounding suicidal thoughts, asking how cultural expectations of “strength” – particularly within Black African and Caribbean communities and in male-dominated spaces – can make it even harder to speak about suicidal thoughts. Panellists will explore how these pressures deepen isolation and what can be done to create safer, more compassionate spaces for people to voice their experiences.

After attending, you will:

• Feel more confident initiating or responding to conversations about suicidal thoughts
• Gain insight into the lived experiences of those affected
• Feel less alone - especially if you have personal experience of these thoughts
• Leave with resources, ideas, and the belief that change starts with conversation

Who is this event for?

This event is open to anyone who wants to better understand, talk about, or support others around the taboo of suicidal thoughts. You might be:

• Someone who has experienced suicidal thoughts yourself
• A friend, family member, or supporter of someone who is struggling
• A professional working in mental health, education, care, or community support
• Someone interested in breaking taboos and reducing stigma
• A person navigating this topic through the lens of identity, culture, faith, or masculinity

You don’t need to have spoken about this before, or be confident with the topic. Whether you’re here to listen, learn, or connect, you are welcome.

What this event is not

While this event explores difficult topics with care, it is not a support group or therapeutic space. There will not be professional mental health support or crisis services available during the event.

If you are in crisis or need someone to talk to before or after the event, please reach out to a dedicated support service:

• Samaritans – Call 116 123 (free, 24/7) or visit samaritans.org
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Call 0800 58 58 58 or visit thecalmzone.net
• Shout – Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 text support)

We will have a quiet space at the venue and a mental health first aider on hand, but these are not substitutes for professional help.

Content note

This event will include open and sensitive conversation about suicidal thoughts and related taboos. It may include: References to suicidal thoughts and self-harm; mentions of other forms of trauma or distress.

We encourage all attendees to prioritise their own wellbeing when deciding whether to attend and while participating. There will be quiet space available at the event, and a trained mental health first aider on hand.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the content in more detail, please email us at hello@talkingtaboos.com.

Update regarding tube strikes (as of Thursday 4 September)

We are aware of the planned strikes that will affect travel in London on Thursday 11 September, the day of our event. We want to reassure you that the event will still be going ahead as planned (although we plan to finish a little earlier at 8pm), and we would be delighted to see you there.

What’s happening?

• Tube and DLR services are expected to be severely disrupted, with little to no service.
• Other TfL services, including the Elizabeth line, London Overground and trams, are expected to run as normal, but will be much busier than usual. Some may not stop at stations shared with the Tube.

Travel advice

• Plan ahead: https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/
• Check before you travel: https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/
• Allow extra time to complete your journey
• For more information including walking and cycling maps, visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes

Getting to the venue

The nearest stations and stops which ought to be operating are:

• Elizabeth Line: Tottenham Court Road (10-15 minute walk)
• Busses stop nearby on Charing Cross Road; Tottenham Court Road; St Giles High Street and Cambridge Circus.

We understand this may be inconvenient, but we really hope you’ll still be able to join us, it won’t be the same without you! For those who can’t make it on the day, the event will be recorded and we’ll share the link afterwards so you don’t miss out.