Suicide Prevention Awareness – Festive Campaign 2022

This year’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, which took place in September, focused on the emotional impact related to the cost-of-living crisis. The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact on everyone regardless of job or income and as we approach Christmas, we are all considering how we can meet the additional costs associated with this time of year.

• This might mean cutting back on activities that you enjoy, such as a holidays, meals out, trips to the cinema or after school activities for children.
• You may be making difficult decisions such as taking on a second job or working overtime for additional income, which means spending less time with family; giving up a family pet due to increasing costs; or strict budgeting for basic outgoings such as food.
• Or you may be facing fundamental choices in relation to food, such as reducing the number of meals you have each day, maybe going without to allow children to eat; cutting down on using heating within the home; or in some cases, you might be choosing between ‘heat or eat’ as it’s not possible to do both.

You may be experiencing guilt, stress, frustration, shame, embarrassment or even crisis and despair. Whatever your situation, don’t ignore the emotional impact of the decisions which you are facing. There are some simple steps you can take which will help you with the range of emotions you may be experiencing.

Find out more here: Suicide prevention week | NHS Fife