Real stories
These are real stories from people who have been impacted by our life-saving work. By sharing their personal stories, they want to help others and end the stigma and shame surrounding suicide.
If you would like to share your story with us, please get in touch below.
Ian's story
Ian Stringer, BBC Sports Commentator, shares his story of how our Stay Alive app helped to keep him safe.
He talks about our life-saving, award-winning app and how the features inside help to organise his thoughts, clear his head and give him solid, accessible lists of activities he enjoys, friends and family he can call and photos he can look at.
Stay Alive has been downloaded over 860,000 times since its release by people with suicidal thoughts and people worried about others.
Find help now if you are in a crisis, find out more about the app or look at our resources below.
Danielle's story
Danielle, Miss Brighton 2021-22, talks about her feelings around suicide and being afraid to speak about them at first.
She shares from her personal experience, what risk factors and warning signs to be aware of and how to start that life-saving conversation.
The Understanding Suicide Hub has lots of information to help you understand suicide better and know what to look for so that people like Danielle can be better supported when they need it the most.
Our interactive film, Real Talk, explores these topics and offers real practice at having difficult conversations. You can explore both resources below.
Steph's story
Steph shares her story of recovery from suicidal thoughts and how our Stay Alive app helped her.
Steph’s experience is similar to what a lot of people with suicidal thoughts go through. Feeling like nobody understands is very isolating, but our Stay Alive app has been designed by people with lived experience of those thoughts and feelings. Our app provides all the things a person might need to see, hear and be reminded of in times of crisis.
Explore the Stay Alive app or find out more about suicide and how you can understand it better.
Geoff's story
Geoff has used the Stay Alive app over five years now. He knows he needs it from time to time, so ensures it’s always available on his phone.
Geoff finds the “My Stay Alive tools” help him when times get tough, and they remind him there are reasons for living, and also actions he can take to keep himself safe. He uses the “Find help now” section to find resources for himself, or when helping someone else.
In his roles as support group facilitator, he frequently recommends downloading the app, and receives some very positive feedback.
He attended the 2024 Sussex Suicide Prevention Conference, organised by GSP, and this encouraged him to seek bereavement counselling regarding his father’s suicide.
Geoff’s hope is that this video will encourage you to “download the Stay Alive app and complete your ‘safety plan’ in case you need it one day”.
Suzanne's story
Suzanne relates her story as a suicide attempt survivor and subsequent Stay Alive app user. She explains how the app helped her immediately after the attempt and how she continues to use it today.
Suzanne says despite being severely distressed in the aftermath of the attempt, she found the app ‘easy-to-use’, exploring and engaging with the “Reasons for Living” section, making a “Safety Plan”, adding life-affirming photos in her “Lifebox”, and making use of the “Support Resources”.
While she now reports as being the “wellest I’ve ever been”, Suzanne still opens and engages with the app regularly, using it to maintain her wellness, and, crucially, turning to it at times when she feels vulnerable.
Her hope is that everyone finds a way to stay alive.
Find help now if you are in a crisis, find out more about the app or look at our resources below.
Laura's story
Laura talks about why she fundraises to support our work after losing her sister-in-law to suicide.
Situations like Laura’s highlight the wider impact of a death by suicide. For every person who dies by suicide, it is estimated that 135 more are affected.
Running to raise funds is something that many of our supporters do. Like Laura says, the experience of a suicide in the family is very sad and we are honoured that she and many others like her are choosing to help us raise awareness and save more lives from suicide in the future.
More support and information about the topics in Laura’s story is available below.
Charlie's story
Charlie, one of our fantastic fundraisers, talks about taking on a challenge event in memory of a friend.
Hear about how training for a half marathon improved his physical and mental health, and the tips he has for other fundraisers who want to do something exciting.
We are so proud of Charlie‘s achievement and hope he inspires others to help save lives from suicide.
If you would like to join a challenge event or are interested in planning your own fundraisers, you can find more information below.