When I first read the SPARK data, one thing hit me hard: how many people don’t feel confident asking someone if they might be suicidal. At CALM, we know that being able to spot the signs that someone might be having suicidal thoughts, and asking them directly if they are feeling suicidal, can cut through a spiral of thoughts and ultimately protect that individual. That’s why this data says so much about the challenge we face and where we need to focus our energy.
Sam Heyes, Senior Insight Manager at Campaign Against Living Miserably
When we talk about suicide prevention, the first thing most people think of is statistics. How many lives were lost last year? How many people reported suicidal thoughts? Those numbers from the ONS and the APMS are important. They show us the scale of the challenge. But crucially, they do not tell us how to make things better.
That is where the SPARK report from M·E·L Research can add value. It does more than measure the problem. It helps us understand what people actually know, and whether they feel ready to step in if someone they care about is struggling.
At CALM, we believe suicide is not just an individual issue. It is a public health issue. To develop interventions, we need to understand the bigger picture: the confidence people have to have a healthy conversation about suicide, the nature of the stigma that still exists, and the barriers that can stop someone from getting the help they need.
Low confidence in having conversations about suicide is one of the reasons we created our C.A.R.E. Kit. The kit gives trusted adults such as parents, teachers, and mentors the tools and reassurance to have honest conversations with young people about suicide and mental health. We know those conversations can feel daunting. But they can also be life-saving. And thanks to SPARK, we can see that confidence is beginning to grow.
There is still more we would love to explore. What would someone actually do if they thought a friend might be suicidal? How do protective factors like strong relationships or community support change over time? What are the real attitudes people hold about suicide, and how do those attitudes shape culture? For CALM, that last piece is especially important, because shifting cultural narratives about suicide is at the heart of what we do.
SPARK has already influenced the way suicide prevention organisations like ours can work. It helps us move from simply knowing how big the problem is to understanding how we can change it. And in suicide prevention, that shift matters. Confidence is not a small detail. It can be the difference between silence and a life-saving conversation.
About Sam Heyes
Sam is the Senior Insight Manager at Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), where he leads research and data analysis to better understand how to engage the public in suicide prevention. With a background in behavioural and healthcare research, Sam is fascinated by the social, cultural, and psychological factors that influence why we behave the way we do – and how those insights can help build a society more confident in tackling difficult conversations about mental health.
About the SPARK Report
What does SPARK stand for? Suicide Prevention: Attitudes, Risk & Knowledge. Our role is not to deliver direct suicide prevention services, but to empower the organisations and individuals who do. Our mission is to equip decision-makers, campaigners, and service providers with the data they need to drive informed action and lasting impact through robust, actionable suicide prevention statistics and insights.
Conducted by M·E·L Research, SPARK is a catalyst for change, providing critical evidence that helps to shape suicide prevention strategies in the UK. Vist the SPARK webpage for further information.
Do you need support?
If you or someone you care about is experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis needing immediate attention: Reach out to the person’s GP, the GP out-of-hours service, or call NHS on 111.
If you fear for your (or someone else’s) immediate safety: Guide them to Accident and Emergency or dial 999 for immediate assistance.
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