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).
Friendly GP+
We know how important your mental health is.
Friendly GP+, which we now offer in addition to our free 24/7 virtual GP service, is our wellbeing hub which includes counselling support for personal and work issues.
The service gives you access to counsellors and online cognitive behavioural therapies. It also includes access to an online support hub. So, help is on hand, confidentially, for our Over 50s Life Insurance policyholders.
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.
* 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/
(Friendly GP+ is available for over 50s policies opened after 19th March 2024 and is accessible after 6 months. All earlier over 50s policyholders have access to Friendly GP as standard.)
