Looking to attend this years Sector Summit?

27th February 2025

Our 2025 Suicide&Co Sector Summit was a huge success, bringing together professionals working with individuals bereaved by suicide for an exciting day of knowledge sharing and networking. If you missed out on our second annual event at Church House, Westminster, don't worry—you can still catch up. Purchase the recording of the day below.

Register your interest here

Take a look at this year and previous years’ Sector Summits.

2024

2026

Check out the highlights from the 2025 Sector Summit

A day of knowledge sharing and networking for professionals working with people bereaved by suicide.

The 2025 Sector Summit brought together more than 200 professionals from diverse fields—including first responders, content creators, and corporate leaders—to share knowledge on suicide bereavement. This unique mix of attendees created a dynamic exchange of ideas, breaking down traditional silos and highlighting the multifaceted nature of this work. The event served as a vital step in fostering connections and equipping a community of professionals with the tools and inspiration needed to make a tangible difference in the lives of people bereaved by suicide.

2025 Agenda

Addressing Masculinity and Access to Support Services

Hári Sewell, Founding Director, HS Consultancy

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This keynote will explore the critical relationship between masculinity and access to mental health and support services, focusing on the barriers that prevent men from seeking help. Cultural norms, stigma, and societal expectations around masculinity often discourage men from engaging with the support they need, leaving them at greater risk.

The session challenged traditional perceptions of masculinity and looked to actionable strategies for reshaping services to be more accessible and inclusive for men.

Navigating Dominant Factors and High-Risk Audiences

This panel dived into the complex challenges of supporting individuals affected by suicide, particularly those facing additional barriers like domestic abuse, cultural stigma, or social exclusion. Experts discussed how these intersecting factors heighten vulnerability and complicate access to mental health and bereavement services. This session focused on how services can adapt their processes, practices, and outreach to be more inclusive and accessible to diverse, hard-to-reach communities.

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Hazel Mercer, Operations Manager, AAFDA

Jake Mills, Founder, Chasing the Stigma

James Ridge, Head of Faith Services, General Chaplain

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Matthew Smith, COO, If U Care Share

Rita Hirani, CEO, Mind Out

Creating an Evidence-Based Model To Support People Bereaved by Addiction

Fay Kepidou, Training & Support Manager, Addiction Family Support

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In this keynote, Addiction Family Support presented their innovative adaptation of the original 5-Step Method, specifically designed to support individuals bereaved by addiction. This adapted model integrates evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those grieving a loss due to substance use. This session provided valuable insights into the process of adapting and implementing evidence-based models to enhance service delivery and foster sustainable, positive outcomes for bereaved individuals and their communities.

Understanding Suicidal Behaviour: The Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model

Professor Rory O'Connor, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Glasgow

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In this keynote, expert Professor Rory O'Connor walked us through his groundbreaking Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behaviour. This model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complex psychological processes that lead to suicidal thoughts and actions.

It also identified key motivational and volitional factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts and actions, providing a comprehensive approach to prevention and intervention.

Deepening Our Understanding Through Research

This panel brought together leading researchers in the fields of suicide and grief, and will highlight impactful findings that can inform evidence-based approaches, helping organisations strengthen their policies, services, and strategies. This discussion focused on how research can bridge the gap between understanding and action, equipping professionals with the knowledge needed to enhance outcomes for those affected by suicide.

Simon Merrywest, Director Student Experience, University of Manchester

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Rosie Ellis, Executive Lead, NSPA

Jo Smith OBE, Prof of Early Intervention, University of Worcester

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Rachel Gibbons, Psychiatrist, NHS

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David Mosse, Professor of Social Anthropology, SOAS

Exploring The Experience of Guilt After Suicide Loss

Dr Alexandra Pitman, Clinical Researcher, UCL

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In this keynote, Prof. Alexandra Pitman from the UCL Division of Psychiatry outlined the findings of some recent qualitative research into the different dimensions of guilt experienced by adults in the UK who have been bereaved by suicide. She introduced her research team’s proposed taxonomy of guilt after suicide loss, which categorises its various forms and explores how guilt manifests and affects individuals differently in the aftermath of suicide loss. Prof Pitman’s research provided a crucial framework for understanding and addressing guilt within bereavement support services, providing valuable insights into the emotional complexities of guilt, its psychological repercussions, and the ways it can shape the grieving process for some.

Workplace Wellbeing: Insights that Drive Action

Paul McGregor, Founder, Everymind At Work

This keynote dived into research on workplace wellbeing, emphasising the critical importance of moving beyond generic approaches to address the specific needs of diverse employee populations. While significant progress has been made in raising awareness and implementing wellbeing initiatives, there remains a pressing need to focus on the details that truly matter to employees. This session explored how data-driven insights and tailored strategies can bridge the gap between broad wellbeing programs and the tangible outcomes employees seek.

The Power of Partnership and Collaboration

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Angela Allen, Bags for Strife

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In this keynote, Angela Allen shared the journey of her new charity, Bags for Strife, which provides essential information and resources to individuals bereaved by suicide. Angela highlighted how building strong partnerships with local authorities, charities, and emergency services has been instrumental in the success of her initiative. This session offered valuable insights into the importance of partnership and collaboration in enhancing the reach and impact, showcasing how collective efforts can create meaningful change.

From Frontline to Framework

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Ross MacLeod, Water Safety Manager, RNLI

In this keynote, we heard about the journey the RNLI is on from being on the frontline of suicide response to developing a comprehensive strategy for suicide prevention and postvention. Drawing on years of experience and data gathered while supporting individuals in crisis, the RNLI is now defining their role within the sector and formalizing their approach. This session also covered how an operational organisation transforms its lived experience into processes and the lessons learned along the way.

Panel Discussion: Upholding Boundaries to Maximise Impact

This panel explored the nuanced role of boundaries within service delivery, challenging the perception that they are inherently exclusionary. Experts shared insights and real-world examples of how setting clear and intentional boundaries can enhance service effectiveness, focus resources, and deliver meaningful support to those who need it most. This discussion highlighted how defining service scope and understanding target populations can amplify outcomes while fostering equity and inclusion.

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Ellen O’Donoghue, CEO, James’ Place

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Paris Forrester, Referral Partnerships Coordinator, The Listening Place

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Melian Mansfield, Chair of Trustees, The Compassionate Friends

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Letizia Perna, Director of Services & Transformation, Winston’s Wish

Meg Moss, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, NCPS

Transforming the Triage Model

Professor Zaffer Iqbal, Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, NAViGO

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In this keynote, Professor Zaffer Iqbal presented his innovative work on the triage model for suicide risk management. Drawing on years of experience, he has developed a novel systems-level approach to differentiate the severity of suicide risk presentations, ensuring fast-track pathways to care for all, including life-threatening cases. He covered how the model addresses operational challenges, such as service saturation, and its preliminary impacts on suicidality, suicide rates, and service user outcomes.

Power of Engaging Content on Difficult Topics

Pete Stevenson, Executive Director, The Edge Picture Company

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In this keynote, Pete walked us through their collaboration with Network Rail, highlighting work they have done around the topics of wellbeing, accident prevention, suicide prevention, and trauma and bereavement support. He showcased how they used films to capture the attention of hard-to-reach audiences, creating content that not only informs but also deeply resonates. The session delved into the creative strategies and storytelling techniques employed to address these sensitive topics in a compelling and accessible way.

Creating Interest vs Breaking the Stigma

This panel tackled the ongoing challenge of dismantling the stigma surrounding death and suicide, which profoundly impacts the communities we serve. Experts discussed how innovative approaches such as podcasts, creative campaigns, and building networks can generate genuine interest and engage new audiences in these critical conversations. This session emphasises the importance of moving beyond traditional dialogues to make these topics more accessible, relatable, and impactful for the wider public.

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Amber Jeffrey, Podcast Host, The Grief Gang

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Maria Bavetta, Head of Engagement, MMHA

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Amie Fretter, Podcast Host, If we don’t laugh we’ll cry

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Will Castle, Executive Producer & Public Speaker, Heirlooms

Rose Rowkins, Suicide Prevention Trainer, Speak Their Name

Building a Safe and Supportive Workplace Culture

Paul Alcock, Jaguar Landrover

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In this keynote, Paul from Jaguar Land Rover shares the transformative steps they have taken to create a workplace culture that prioritises safety, support, and openness around the difficult topics of suicide and grief. Highlighting initiatives that go beyond standard corporate wellbeing offerings, this session explored how Jaguar Land Rover has fostered a brave and compassionate environment where employees feel empowered to seek help and support one another.

Creating a Culture of Accountability

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Richard Martin, Mindful Business Charter

In this keynote, Richard from the Mindful Business Charter spoke to the change he wants to see where organisations move beyond fear and hesitation when addressing suicide, advocating instead for a culture of accountability. He talked about leadership, emphasising their role in fostering environments that prioritise mental health, psychological safety, and proactive support for their teams. Richard discusses how leaders can critically assess the internal environments they create and take meaningful action to ensure the right support systems are in place.