The suicide rate among young women is the highest it’s ever been. That means that every two days we lose a woman under 25 to suicide. Women across the UK are slipping through the net because the signs they’re struggling are being missed and we all need to play our part in changing that.
79% of the women under 25 who took their own lives were previously assessed as low risk and as a result, didn’t receive help which could have been life-saving. The statistics are shocking, but the issue is complicated.
New research commissioned by CALM found that stereotypes around women mean that those in crisis often hold back from asking for help because they won’t be taken seriously (31%), fear they’ll be seen as attention seeking (22%) and dramatic or over-emotional (33%).
When it comes to young women specifically, among those aged 18-34 who have spoken up about a mental health crisis, 27% were told it could be down to hormones, whereas one in five (20%) were even asked if they were on their period
These damaging preconceptions are leaving young women unheard and unsupported - or worse, ignored. We spoke with some of those impacted by this crisis about how we can help women struggling to feel seen and supported.