Need Help?
Find Help Now
The Hopeshow: Campaigning to end the stigma around suicide
The Hopeshow is a national roadshow led by Professor Pooja Saini, following the powerful Let’s Talk Hope: Ending the Stigma around Suicide podcast series. Through events, panels, and community conversations across the UK, it aims to break down stigma around suicide, challenge judgement, and open up honest dialogue.
What is The Hopeshow?
The Hopeshow is a national awareness campaign focused on reducing stigma and encouraging more open, informed conversations about suicide prevention.
Created by Professor Pooja Saini, academic lead of the Suicide and Self-Harm Research Group at Liverpool John Moores University, the campaign builds on the themes of the powerful Let’s Talk Hope: Ending the Stigma around Suicide podcast to explore pressing issues around mental health and suicide.
At each location, the Hopeshow dives into key topics through engaging discussions, expert perspectives and community insight. It aims to:
Reduce the stigma of disclosing suicidal thoughts
Challenge judgement around suicide and self-harm within professional settings
Reduce stigma experienced by those bereaved by suicide
From exploring the role of education in prevention to tackling judgement in healthcare, The Hopeshow highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and evidence-based approaches in every setting.
Upcoming events
Events are taking place across the UK, see below for the latest updates in your area.
Glasgow
Innovative suicide prevention interventions: In collaboration with Professor Rory O’Connor
Date: TBC
Newcastle
Men’s mental health and suicide prevention: In collaboration with James’ Place
Date: TBC
Cumbria
Community suicide prevention: In collaboration with Every Life Matters
Date: TBC
Wigan
Community crisis harbour and living with suicidal thoughts
Date: TBC
Stratford Upon Avon
Women’s mental health and suicide prevention: In collaboration with Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre
Date: TBC
Brighton
TBC – In collaboration with Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Date: TBC
Dorset
Barbers and hairdressing: In collaboration with Lion’s Barber Collective
Date: TBC
Derry
Trauma and suicide prevention: In collaboration with Professor Siobhán O’Neill
Date: TBC
Past events
In June 2025, The Hopeshow visited Anglesey in collaboration with 3 Dads Walking.
The event brought together members of the local community to explore practical approaches to suicide prevention, with a particular focus on supporting children and young people. Speakers shared updates on the campaign to include suicide prevention within the school curriculum, alongside insights from research into suicide prevention strategies for schools. The event also featured a panel discussion on the MAPSS (Multi-modal Approach to Preventing Suicide in Schools) trial, followed by audience questions and discussion.
In September 2025, The Hopeshow came to Manchester in collaboration with Suicide Bereavement UK and Postvention Trust.
The event highlighted the progress being made in supporting people bereaved or affected by suicide, showcasing developments in research, training, leadership, and postvention services. Through a panel discussion featuring leading voices from across the sector, attendees explored current challenges, shared learning, and reflected on opportunities to strengthen support for those affected by suicide.
In October 2025, Grassroots Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with the Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Birmingham, hosted Stronger Together: Empowering Community Action to Prevent Youth Suicide.
The event brought together community members, professionals, and organisations to share experiences, explore challenges, and identify practical ways to strengthen local action in preventing youth suicide. The event focused on building connections, amplifying community voices, and encouraging collaborative approaches to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We are pleased to share this dissemination video, which captures key insights, reflections, and highlights from the event.
Let's Talk Hope: Ending the Stigma around Suicide
Let’s Talk Hope: Ending the Stigma around Suicide is a powerful new podcast series dedicated to opening honest conversations around suicide prevention, mental health, and community support.
Each episode features a diverse mix of voices, from people with lived experience to frontline professionals, exploring topics like:
- Crisis intervention
- Community support
- Postvention
- Barbershop-based outreach
- The impact of menopause on mental health
It’s a series about awareness and action, and explores what prevention really means, from early intervention and community support to the impact of suicide on families and the unique barriers faced by marginalised groups.
