Youth Suicide Prevention: Why a change of approach is needed
Hosts: Nai's House, Basin Needs Basic Rights Kenya, Catalyst Now (Mental Health Collaboration), CBMUK
Our social networking event is about bringing people together to understand and explore the barriers young people face when seeking support for their suicidality and how together, we can affect change at a community level.
Globally, suicide claims more lives than malaria and is a leading cause of death among young people. Yet stigma, reluctance to talk about the issue, and weak systems continue to prevent young people from accessing the support they need. We know there are ways we can, together, affect change.
Conversations led by people with lived experience are key to shifting attitudes, mobilising stakeholders, and creating real change for young people who often feel abandoned or unheard. Whether in Kenya, the UK, or elsewhere, we still have a long way to go. While contexts differ, there are striking similarities — and real opportunities to learn from one another and rethink how we approach youth suicide prevention.
Most attendees will be people with lived experience or professionals supporting young people facing suicidal ideation. They will leave the session with a clear understanding of what a progressive approach to supporting young people looks like—both in Kenya and in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Above all, they will gain a sense of solidarity and, ideally, renewed hope. Participants will hear first-hand how lived‑experience leadership can guide difficult conversations about suicide, challenge stereotypes, and inspire hope for life.
The session will also emphasise the need to invest in integrating this leadership into mental health services and the wider primary healthcare system. Because community-based approaches to supporting young people with suicidal tendencies are still relatively rare, attendees seeking to broaden their knowledge will learn practical, community‑rooted methods for youth suicide prevention.
Finally, those less familiar with mental health issues, and suicide in particular, will leave with a deeper understanding of this complex subject and a commitment to reducing stigma.
Speakers are:
Gem Barrett is the founder and CEO, and Amber Knewman is an Under 18's Supporter from Nai's House.
Kirsty Smith OBE is CEO of CBM UK, Chair of Bond and a member of the FCDO External Challenge Board, awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to disabled people overseas.
Erla Magnusdottir is the BasicNeeds Mental Health Coordinator at CBM UK, with 15+ years’ global mental health experience supporting community-based initiatives.
Eugene Wanekeya is a communications and advocacy specialist with 10+ years’ experience across health, nutrition, resilience and humanitarian work, crafting ethical, impact-led storytelling that builds trust and influences change.
Julian Onyango has 15+ years’ experience in behavioural health programmes, advancing rights-based community mental health and bringing lived-experience leadership.
Khira Geoffrey is a medical psychologist and mental health/human rights advocate who has spent 5+ years championing the rights of people with lived experience and helping close gaps in mental health care.
Musa Gathuru is Partnerships Officer at Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya, a disability rights advocate with 15 years’ Kenya Sign Language experience and a published writer with a background spanning design, publishing and tech.
Rosemary Gathara is a health and development professional with expertise in community health, mental health and epilepsy, with 20+ years’ experience.
Chris Underhill is a social entrepreneur and global mental health leader - founder of BasicNeeds (and ADD/Thrive), co-founder of citiesRISE, Chair of Catalyst 2030’s Mental Health Collaboration, widely active in governance across major social impact bodies, and an MBE (2000).
This venue has a capacity of 60.