Our Vision: A Zero Suicide Society

Consider this thought: if not zero, what is an acceptable number of suicides for our society to accept?



Put like that, we believe there is only one goal worth striving for — a zero suicide society. By our definition, that is a society willing and able to do all it can to prevent all preventable suicides.

Our mission statement

To directly influence the most significant downturn in recorded deaths by suicide in the UK, through practical action and collaboration — and to create a society that is willing and able to do all it can to prevent all preventable suicides.

Why is a zero suicide goal needed?

The UK loses more than 7,000 people to suicide every year — a toll that has seen no significant downward movement for almost two decades — and suicide remains the biggest killer of adults under 35.

Research shows that most suicides are preventable. So our mission must surely be to prevent most suicides.

Where does "zero suicide" come from?

The idea began in 2001 at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where Ed Coffey and his team made the bold decision to aim for zero suicides within their healthcare system.

Within four years, suicides in their system had fallen by 80%. In 2009, they recorded their first year with no suicide deaths at all. Zero suicide has since become an international call to action.

Learn more about about the background to this story through this short video.

How do we get there?

Suicide is a practical act — so it needs practical actions to prevent it. Our strategy focuses on:



• Making communities and workplaces mentally healthy, psychologically safe places
• Combining human intelligence and digital technology for earlier identification and intervention
• "Designing out suicide" across our built environment, education, health and support systems
• Encouraging every hospital, university, council and employer to make practical suicide prevention plans
• Building collaborative relationships with everyone who shares our belief that suicide numbers can fall
  

Grounded in research

In 2023, we spent months interviewing dozens of individuals and organisations — charity leaders, crisis team leads, campaigners, and above all people with lived experience of suicide.

On 11 July 2023 — what would have been Jordan's 38th birthday — we published our 84-page report, "Moving Towards a Zero Suicide Society", including 10 Big Ideas for a Zero Suicide Society. Suicide prevention leads described it as ground-breaking.

We are also proud to partner with MEL Research and collaborated to produce the SPARK report a project designed to spark meaningful change in suicide prevention across the UK.  SPARK is a catalyst for change, providing critical evidence that helps to shape suicide prevention strategies in the UK.

From report to national action

Publishing reports is one thing; implementation takes collaboration. In 2024, the seeds were sown for One Voice, One Hope — the national collaborative suicide prevention network facilitated by The Jordan Legacy.

By applying the report's learnings through One Voice, One Hope, we believe we finally have an opportunity to reverse the upward trend in UK suicide deaths.

Everyone has a part to play

Suicide can affect anyone — yet everyone can help prevent suicide. Government, schools, workplaces and communities can all become beacons of hope by becoming part of the solution.