Here for students. Here for life.
How Papyrus supports students and the people who care about them.
Deadlines. Assessments. Financial pressure. Being far from home. This time of year brings a particular kind of overwhelm for many students. One that can go beyond stress and into something much harder to name.
Suicide is still the leading cause of death in people under 35 in the UK. Around 1 in 4 young people experience thoughts of suicide at some point in their lives. Many of them are sitting in lectures, libraries and student halls, carrying those thoughts in silence.
Who we are
When young people are thinking about suicide or feeling unsafe, they have to know how and where to find help – and everyone else needs to know what to do and say when it matters most.
That’s why Papyrus exists.
We’re a young person’s suicide prevention charity. And that means so much more than raising awareness.
We run HopeLine 24/7, our free and confidential helpline offering practical, compassionate support. We share with people how to spot the signs and start conversations about suicide. We work with communities, schools and workplaces to make them suicide-safer places. We campaign, we educate, and we advocate for change.
And above all else, we’re here. Day and night, every day of the year supporting young people to stay safe and helping others to feel confident when talking about suicide.
- Call 0300 102 2470
- Text 88247
- Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Webchat via papyrus-uk.org
What we’re seeing in Scotland
In Scotland, the need for support is growing. And so is our reach.
Our HopeLine 24/7 Scotland Impact Report 2024–2025 shows a 208% increase in service activity over the past three years. Growth in Scotland is now three times higher than the UK average. The average age of people contacting us is 23.9, right in the heart of the student and post-graduate population.
We’re also seeing more young men reaching out. That matters. It tells us that when we talk openly about suicide and make it easier to ask for help, people do.
Our Scotland Community Services team work across the country to make sure support is visible, accessible and reaching the young people who need it most.
If you’re a student
If you’re struggling right now, with thoughts of suicide, with the pressure of exams, or with anything that feels too heavy to carry, please reach out. You don’t need to be in crisis to contact us. If something doesn’t feel right, that’s enough.
HopeLine 24/7 is here for you. Any time. Every day.
We also have free resources on our website that might help:
If you’re thinking about suicide: Practical support and honest information for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide, including tools to help you stay safe right now.
Getting through right now: Grounding techniques, distraction ideas and practical tools for when things feel overwhelming.
Suicide safety plan: A personal plan you can build to help you stay safe in the hard moments.
If you support students
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to ask the question.
Asking someone directly if they’re thinking about suicide doesn’t put the idea in their head. It opens a door. It tells them they’re not invisible. It can save a life.
Are you worried about someone? Offers guidance for anyone worried about a student, including how to spot the signs and how to start the conversation.
Our research in Scotland shows a direct link between Papyrus training and increased help-seeking. Areas where more people have completed our training consistently see higher contact rates to HopeLine 24/7.
Training changes things. Find out more about the training we offer.
HopeLine 24/7 is here for staff too. If you’ve had a difficult conversation and need to talk it through, our advisers offer a confidential debrief service. You don’t have to carry it alone.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more about our work in Scotland or talk about how Papyrus can support your institution, please get in touch: Will Deacon, Area Manager Scotland william.deacon@papyrus-uk.org.
