Thank you, Comic Relief!

Dear Comic Relief, 

Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day 2023 has been a beacon of hope for organisations such as Harmless and The Tomorrow Project over the last 25 years and have been contributing to our work directly for the last decade.

During times of economic upheaval, suicide and self-harm rates can increase significantly, making it more important than ever that the hard work of third sector organisations is acknowledged and supported. 

This year marks one of those times where we need all the help we can get, with millions in the UK facing poverty due to job losses and rising food prices. Self-harm rates are already increasing across the country and there is an urgent need for ongoing support from organisations like Comic Relief in ensuring specialist self harm service are given the funding to thrive. 

So with this in mind, let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the amazing work that’s been done over the years to help those in need. Here are five facts about self harm and the suicide rate in the UK: 

1. Self-harm is a surprisingly common behaviour amongst young people in the UK, with an estimated up to 1 in 3 having hurt themselves at least once. 

2. Self-harm is also one of the strongest risk factors for suicide, with around 85% of those who engage in self-harming activities doing so because they want to die. 

3. Despite this, it is estimated that only 11% of self-harm cases are reported to healthcare professionals, meaning that many more people may be struggling quietly without support or assistance. 

4. In the UK, suicide is the biggest cause of death for men aged under 45 and the second biggest for women aged under 35. 


5. Thankfully, there has been a gradual decrease in suicides over time, with 11% fewer people taking their own life in 2019 than in 2011. 

We’re incredibly grateful to Comic Relief and Red Nose Day 2023 for their continued support of our work at Harmless and The Tomorrow Project — it truly is an invaluable resource at this particularly difficult time. Your grants are helping us to save lives and we can’t thank you enough! 

If you would like to find out more about how you can help us continue our lifesaving work or donate to the cause, please visit our website: www.harmless.org.uk 

Together we can make a difference and help bring an end to this preventable tragedy. 

Thank you for your support! 

Sincerely,  The Harmless / The Tomorrow Project Team