I’ve Seen Santa’s Naughty & Nice List for Suicide Prevention (Christmas 2025)

And yes, I’ve put Tough to Talk on the Nice side. Argue with me.

By Steve Whittle, Founder of Tough to Talk

Father Christmas tried to tell me his list was confidential.

I reminded him that I work in suicide prevention. Awkward truths are my thing.

So yes, I’ve seen Santa’s Naughty & Nice list for 2025. And when it comes to suicide prevention, particularly men’s mental health in the UK, it makes for uncomfortable reading.

Let’s start with the reality we keep dancing around.

In England and Wales, men account for around three-quarters of all suicides. In 2024, 6,190 suicides were registered, with a male suicide rate more than three times higher than that of women. Middle-aged men remain at the highest risk.

This isn’t rare. This isn’t sudden. It’s a pattern.

And patterns demand prevention, not sympathy after the fact.

So, here’s the list.

🎁 The Nice List

Because some people and organisations are genuinely shifting outcomes

England’s Suicide Prevention Strategy (2023–2028) is finally explicit about prevention, risk factors, and multi-agency responsibility.

Scotland’s “Creating Hope Together” Long-term, public-health-led, and unafraid to name structural drivers.

Wales’ “Understanding” Suicide Prevention Strategy: A ten-year commitment that finally puts suicide prevention front and centre.

Northern Ireland’s Protect Life 2Extended because the need hasn’t gone away.

The Men’s Health Strategy (England)Late, imperfect, but essential. Naming men’s mental health matters.

Samaritans: The safety net. The last line. Always deserves respect.

Shout 85258Accessible crisis support that meets people where they are.

Zero Suicide Alliance: Mass-scale suicide awareness training embedded across workplaces and services.

NCISH (University of Manchester) The evidence backbone of UK suicide prevention. Quietly shaping policy for decades.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) Relentless focus on suicide prevention, particularly among men.

Andy’s Man Club Peer support, male spaces, no frills, no judgement.

James’ Place Rapid, specialist support for men in suicidal crisis.

PAPYRUS Youth suicide prevention done with seriousness and urgency.

Men’s Sheds Connection, purpose, and belonging. Protective factors hiding in plain sight.

Tough to Talk Yes, I’m putting us here. Of course I am.

This year, upstream suicide prevention in male-centric spaces has meant:

• 219 Tough Talkers trained

• 900+ meaningful community influences

• 400+ men signposted to support before the crisis

• 38 suicide interventions where immediate action was taken to keep someone safe

If you think that doesn’t belong on the Nice list, tell me why. Debate improves practice.

🧨 The Naughty List

Because avoidance hasn’t been working

Funding models that prioritise crisis over prevention

Platforms profiting from distress (Nice hoodie BTW)

Waiting lists that quietly increase risk

Cuts to community and youth infrastructure

Social media platforms that profit from distress

Slow enforcement of online safety regulations

The stigma that still tells men to cope silently

No villains. No caricatures. Just systems and decisions with consequences.

A final word

If you fund services, shape policy, run a workplace, manage a club, or lead a community, you are already part of suicide prevention.

Whether you acknowledge it or not.

And if you think this list is wrong, incomplete, or unfair, please let me know. Let’s talk about it.

Politeness hasn’t been saving men’s lives.