News & Events

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place each year on 10 September to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented. It encourages open and compassionate conversations, challenges stigma and helps people understand how they can support someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress.

For adult social care and safeguarding, suicide prevention is closely linked to promoting wellbeing, recognising risk and taking early action before harm occurs. Practitioners may be well placed to notice changes in a person’s behaviour, increasing isolation, self-neglect or signs that they are struggling to cope. Listening without judgement, responding promptly and working with the adult and relevant services can help ensure that support is proportionate, person-centred and focused on the outcomes the person wants. Where there is an immediate risk to life, emergency help should be sought without delay.

For more information about self-neglect please read the guidance for practitioners produced by the Islington Safeguarding Adults Board.

For more information, please visit the WSPD - IASP or Samaritans website.

Islington Council works with partners like Grassroots Suicide Prevention to offer free mental health and suicide awareness courses (such as the half-day "Real Talk" or one-day "Caring Connections" workshops) for frontline staff, volunteers, and community groups. You can sign up through Islington Public Health Training.

Anyone who needs someone to talk to can call Samaritans free, at any time, on 116 123. For urgent mental health support, contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option. If someone’s life is at immediate risk, call 999.

If you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone else, it’s ok to ask for help. This can be through friends, families or professionals, but you can also access a range of support through the Stay Alive app.

Stay Alive is a suicide prevention resource packed full of useful information and tools to help people stay safe if they are thinking about suicide, or worried about someone else. It also has interactive sections, including safety plans and breathing exercises.

Alongside over 100 national services and helplines that can offer support, you can also find information on 40+ local services by clicking ‘Find Help Now’ and filtering for North London.

The app is free to download on both Android and iOS, or can be accessed at stayalive.app

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons raises awareness of human trafficking. This is when people are moved, controlled, or exploited through force, threats, pressure, or deception. Modern slavery is an umbrella term that encompasses human trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced or compulsive labor. It is a crime and violates human rights. Modern slavery is a form of abuse under the Care Act 2014. Potential victims may be adults with care and support needs who need more help to stay safe and may include people with different types of disabilities – like physical and learning, mental health needs, who have dementia or may be dependent on drug and alcohol. Adults may be forced to work, commit crimes, move money, or take part in fraud. They may be threatened, controlled, or too afraid to ask for help.

The International Labor Organization estimated that 27.6 million people were in modern slavery in 2021, including forced labor and forced marriage. This shows why it is important to recognise the signs and act early. Trafficking can include forced labor, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, domestic servitude, forced marriage, criminal exploitation, and organ trafficking. It can affect adults of any age and background.

If you are worried that an adult may be at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or trafficking, please let us know. Help is available. Contact the Adult Social Care Integrated Front Door on 020 7527 2299 or complete the online safeguarding concern form. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

More information is available at World Day Against Trafficking in Persons - 30 July.

Samaritans Awareness Day raises awareness of the support Samaritans offer to people who are struggling, feeling isolated, or experiencing emotional distress. This is important for safeguarding adults because poor mental health, loneliness, or crisis can increase a person’s risk of harm, abuse, neglect, or self-neglect. Talking and listening can help people get support earlier.

To find out more, please visit Samaritans Awareness Day.

For local information about mental health and emotional wellbeing support, please visit Mental health | Islington Council.

Each year, the third week of June is Learning Disability Week. The theme for Learning Disability Week 2026 is "Do you see me?" This means recognizing people with a learning disability are making sure they feel accepted, seen, heard, included, and valued in all aspects of their life.
For more information, please visit Learning Disability Week | Mencap

Join Islington to celebrate Learning Disability Awareness Week 2026 with Elfrida’s Inclusive Sports Day. A fun day of inclusion, and unity through sport, where everyone is accepted, respected and celebrated. For more details, please visit Islington Life - Learning Disability Week 2026

This theme for 2026 is Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work. Elder abuse remains widely under-recognised and unreported. There are many forms, including physical, psychological, and financial abuse, as well as neglect. It takes place in situations where individuals lack visibility, support, or access to services. Addressing these issues requires systems in place that can prevent abuse and respond effectively when it happens, while respecting the dignity, independence, and rights of individuals.

To find out more information please visit World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | United Nations

You can contact Elder Abuse Response Line on 020 8835 9280 for advice please visit  Find Your Islington | Elder Abuse Response Line

If you are worried about someone who may be at risk contact the Adult Social Care Integrated Front Door on 020 7527 2299 or complete the online safeguarding concern form. If someone is at immediate risk or danger please call 999.