Every year on September 10 Suicide Prevention Day aims to focus on the issue, reduce stigma and raise awareness among organisations, governments, and the public by sharing one message – that suicides are preventable.
To mark the day, Isaac Kenyon from Devon is taking on the Iron man challenge. The triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile run back-to-back wearing a 15kg weighted vest.
He says he was inspired to do the weighted ironman challenge as it’s deep and profound to him. During his time at university a friend of his took his own life, which he says had a profound impact on him.
He added: “My mental over the years got worse, I had poor anxiety. I was tackling gripping anxiety which sometimes led to suicidal ideation.
Isaac Kenyon from Devon is taking on the Iron man challenge to mark Suicide Prevention Day
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“I wanted to do something that would talk about this sort of problem that a lot of people having with suicide which is 700,000 people in the world right now are taking their life every year and its growing.
“The Iron man is a difficult for most people and then you take your mental health struggles with you on that day. It doesn’t leave unless you talk it out.”
In December 2016, 23-year-old Alon Eliashar, who founded 3D animation company Animascot, wrote the words "no resuscitation or life support" on his left hand before he hung himself while his family were at the cinema.
His mother, Schlomit Eliashar, describes her son was a perfectly happy boy, loveable and cheeky.
He had a large group of friends, but one day the group of friends disowned him. After this experience he became isolated and sad, an experience he never overcame.
She says: “No matter what Alon’s mental health was, life was much better when he was around. I just really want to say that our life is shattered since he went, and his presence is so much by everyone.”
Alon Eliashar, who founded 3D animation company Animascot, wrote the words 'no resuscitation or life support' on his left hand before he hung himself while his family were at the cinema
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Meanwhile his father, Ehud, says he knows that young men tend to stay away from asking for help, believing that they can manage their life on their own.
He argues that those who make the step to seek help cry out and say I need help can be saved. His only wish is that Alon had the courage to say that he needs help as the family were worried about him for years.
He added: “We did try and ask him to seek help. We said you know, go and see a life coach. We never said go and see a psychologist. Just go and get some help, and he was just angry with that suggest. I always felt that we were helping to keep on floating.”
According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is a major public health problem far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences.
They estimate that there are currently more than 700,000 suicides per year world-wide.
World Suicide Prevention Day was founded by the International Association for Suicide in union with the World Health Organisation.
Ehud says he knows that young men tend to stay away from asking for help, believing that they can manage their life on their own
GB News
Sharn Tomlinson, Chief Executive of Mind in Mid Herts says the work their workload in the county has 'increased by 60 per cent since 2019' in the number of people coming to see them
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In the UK, Mind is a mental health charity that offers advice and support to empower people experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness, and promote understanding.
Sharn Tomlinson, Chief Executive of Mind in Mid Herts says the work their workload in the county has “increased by 60 per cent since 2019” in the number of people coming to see them.
This is stretching their resources at a time when people are going through difficult challenges.
“Part of our DNA is prevention, what can we do, how can we educate people? Education is key to getting people to look after their mental health, just like they do with their physical health.
“They think about exercise, they think about their diet, we need people to think about their mental health. If they are feeling low, don’t ignore it. Get to it before it gets so bad, that actually it’s really hard to pull yourself out of that.”
Latest NHS figures show that over 3.1 million people used mental health services outside of hospitals, an increase of 16.8 per cent since 2020.
The Department for Health and Social care say £150 million is being invested up to April 2025 to support people experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – mental health crises to receive care and support in more appropriate settings outside of A&E, helping to ease pressures facing the NHS.
