Insights

9th October 2023

Understanding life insurance and suicide 

We recognise that suicide can be a difficult topic to talk about. More than 6,000 people die by suicide in the UK and Ireland each year*, the highest rate being in males aged 50-54**, many of whom will have life insurance policies in place. That’s why we want to explain the implications of suicide on our life policies as a duty of care to our members.

Does life insurance cover suicide?

Life insurance can be a way of providing peace of mind and financial security to your loved ones in the event of your death. And it’s understandable to want to know whether life insurance covers suicide. It's a sensitive and complex issue that needs to be understood properly when considering buying a life insurance policy. 

Insurance policies are designed to cover unintended events; life insurance policy providers are duty bound to ensure that this benefit does not inadvertently appear to be offering any financial incentive to death, including suicide. 

Many life insurance policies, including ours, do cover death as a result of suicide or self-harm. However, these polices typically include a period at the beginning of the policy where non-accidental death, such as suicide, wouldn’t be covered. This is called a qualifying period. The standard qualifying period for our Over 50s Life Cover is two years. After that time, non-accidental death would be covered.

Where you can get help

We recognise that mental illness is a legitimate health condition and we don’t want to stigmatise suicide in any way.

When you're living with or experiencing mental health concerns, it’s important to talk to someone about how you feel and what you are going through and having access to the right information is vital.

Carrying the burden on your own can be exhausting and opening up about how you feel is an important step. If you feel you can, speak to someone you trust. If that feels too difficult, there are independent organisations who are trained to help people just like you.

Speak to your GP and be honest about how you feel as they will be able to offer you support. This might include referral to NHS mental health services. Alternatively, Local Minds provide mental health services in communities across England and Wales. Further information is available at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/local-minds/

The Samaritans offer free, round-the-clock telephone support throughout the year, and encourage anyone who’s struggling to cope to call 116 123 (UK and Ireland). If you live in Scotland, you can call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87​.

National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).

Life can get tough, but often this is only a temporary situation. It’s immensely important that you reach out to someone should you feel you want to harm yourself or take your own life. 

There is help out there. Help you deserve.

* www.samaritans.org/wales/about-samaritans/media-guidelines/suicide-facts-journalists/

** www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/latest-suicide-data/

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