Nearly three million adults in England have still not come forward for a Covid vaccine, data reveals.
Most elderly and vulnerable people have already had several protective shots.
It is well understood that getting fully immunised saves lives by cutting the risk of severe Covid illness, although it cannot fully stop infections. Cases have been rising rapidly in the UK in recent weeks.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show an estimated 2.7m people - or one in every 25 - is thought to be infected.
Fresh waves of Covid are also being seen in other countries because of waning immunity and new Covid variants. The virus keeps mutating or changing.
The chief of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that the pandemic is "nowhere near over".
Rising infections across Europe have prompted EU health agencies to recommend a second Covid booster shot for people over 60, as well as people who are medically vulnerable.
Spring boosters were offered to over-75s and other high-risk people in the UK and are still available to individuals in these groups who have not yet had them.
The number of people in hospital in the UK who have tested positive for Covid has been rising for weeks. A total of 13,336 patients were in hospital in England on 11 July. The last time the figure was this high in England was in late April. Ministers say Covid restrictions could be reintroduced if pressures on the NHS became too much, but there is no suggestion that will happen. However recent government upheavals may yet change their approach.
World Suicide Prevention Day is hosted on 10 September each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and provides the opportunity for people, across the globe, to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the country, but suicides among teenage girls and young women have almost doubled in recent years.
The theme for World Suicide Day 2022, is ‘creating hope through action’.
Our message this year is clear – we’re asking you to create hope through action by learning more about how you can support someone in your life who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or at risk of suicide.
Are you looking to learn more about suicide? Our information page provides a thorough overview of suicide, highlights the facts and common misconceptions that surround it, and signposts to support and educational resources available to support people affected by suicide.
Suicide rates among construction workers in the UK are over three times the national average. We’ve worked tirelessly with organisations in this industry to address this. On Friday 24 September, we’re hosting a webinar on with our partners at the Builders Merchants Federation to promote the importance of suicide prevention and to give greater confidence to people on how to talk about the issue in any type of workplace.
Thousands of people in the UK die by suicide every year. Each life lost by suicide is preventable. Gigi shares her experience of depression, anxiety and suicidal feelings. Her story shows how picking up the phone to speak to loved ones and asking for help can be a lifeline.