“While suicide prevention should be addressed throughout the year, World Suicide Prevention Day highlights the importance of collective action. As individuals, we can regularly check in on family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances – engaging in meaningful conversation and active listening without judgement. Employers can further contribute in a number of ways, including by implementing mental health training programmes, supporting employee wellbeing, and fostering an organisational culture in which staff feel secure discussing mental health concerns without stigma or fear of negative consequences, confident that appropriate support will be available and signposted as needed.
“Sadly, the group risk industry knows just how important providing support is: data from GRiD’s Claims Survey 2025 shows that insurers paid 345 claims for suicide under Group Life Assurance policies in 2024. While the financial support payable after a suicide is a help for a loved one’s dependants, the industry also gives access to much that can play an active role in preventing suicide, including help for businesses, line managers, HRs and employees, such as early intervention, treatment, fast access to talking therapies, signposting to mental health first aid training, plus ongoing regular support and contact.
“There’s undoubtedly a real need to talk more openly about suicide and to change the narrative, so that people see it as preventable and avoidable, and so that everyone is able to support someone who is struggling”
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRID
For further information please contact:
Sharon Mason
SMUK Marketing and PR
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350
smason@smuk.org.uk
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Mob: 07887 512508
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Notes for editors
About GRiD
Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their well-being and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and those operating in (or with other interests in) the UK group risk market. Together this forms a collective wealth of experience built over many years. Under the chairmanship of Colin Fitzgerald (Distribution Director – Group Protection, L&G Retail) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.
GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry’s standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk developed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
GRiD’s media activity aims to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products and their benefits for employers and employees.
GRiD’s dedicated spokesperson, Katharine Moxham, provides expert media comment on a full range of group risk issues.