Suicide-related callouts to fire services triple in England in a decade
April 28, 2026 6:11am
Exclusive: Samaritans call for mandatory training for firefighters amid rise in incidents. Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have...
Exclusive: Samaritans call for mandatory training for firefighters amid rise in incidents. Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have tripled in the last decade, with Samaritans now calling for mandatory training for firefighters, who they say are struggling to deal with the increase in traumatic incidents.New figures show that fire services in England attended 3,250 suicide callouts in the year ending September 2025, the equivalent to 62 callouts a week. This was up from 997 callouts in 2009-10 when records began.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. The Guardian reported this update on 2026-04-26 with additional details in the linked source coverage.
5-Second Takeaway
Exclusive: Samaritans call for mandatory training for firefighters amid rise in incidents.
Why This Matters
Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have tripled in the last decade, with Samaritans now calling for mandatory training for firefighters, who they say are struggling to deal with the increase in traumatic incidents.New figures show that fire services in England attended 3,250 suicide callouts in the year ending September 2025, the equivalent to 62 callouts a week. This was up from 997 callouts in 2009-10 when records began.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
What Changed
- The Guardian published this report on 2026-04-26.
- The headline focus is "Suicide-related callouts to fire services triple in England in a decade".
- Exclusive: Samaritans call for mandatory training for firefighters amid rise in incidents.
- Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have tripled in the last decade, with Samaritans now calling for mandatory training for firefighters, who they say are struggling to deal with the increase in traumatic incidents.New figures show that fire services in England attended 3,250 suicide callouts in the year ending September 2025, the equivalent to 62 callouts a week.
- This was up from 997 callouts in 2009-10 when records began.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
- In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
- In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14.
- Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
Key Facts
- The Guardian published this report on 2026-04-26.
- The headline focus is "Suicide-related callouts to fire services triple in England in a decade".
- Exclusive: Samaritans call for mandatory training for firefighters amid rise in incidents.
- Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have tripled in the last decade, with Samaritans now calling for mandatory training for firefighters, who they say are struggling to deal with the increase in traumatic incidents.New figures show that fire services in England attended 3,250 suicide callouts in the year ending September 2025, the equivalent to 62 callouts a week.
Key Numbers
- The Guardian published this report on 2026-04-26.
- Suicide-related callouts to fire and rescue services in England have tripled in the last decade, with Samaritans now calling for mandatory training for firefighters, who they say are struggling to deal with the increase in traumatic incidents.New figures show that fire services in England attended 3,250 suicide callouts in the year ending September 2025, the equivalent to 62 callouts a week.
- This was up from 997 callouts in 2009-10 when records began.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
- In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
- In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14.