When It Is Darkest

The compassionate, evidence-based book on understanding and preventing suicide, from the acclaimed psychologist and expert in suicide research and prevention.

WINNER OF THE BPS POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK AWARD
AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO 4

'Read this incredible book. I wept and I learnt' Prof Tanya Byron, clinical psychologist

‘Full of helpful tips and brilliant advice. This book comes from the heart.’ Roman Kemp, presenter and mental health advocate

When you are faced with the unthinkable, this is the book you can turn to.

Suicide is both baffling and devastating in equal measures, and it can affect any one of us: one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Yet despite the scale of the devastation, for family members and friends, suicide is still poorly understood.

Drawing on decades of work in the field of suicide prevention and research, and having been bereaved by suicide twice, Professor O'Connor is here to help. Written with empathy and understanding, When It Is Darkest untangles the complex reasons behind someone taking their own life and dispels unhelpful myths around suicide.

For those trying to help someone vulnerable, it will provide indispensable advice on communication, stressing the importance of listening to fears and anxieties without judgment.

And for those who are struggling to get through the tragedy of suicide, it will help you find strength in the darkest of places.

Praise for When It Is Darkest:

'Compassionate, personal and thought-provoking' Prof Steve Peters, bestselling author of The Chimp Paradox

‘Rory is wise, unbelievably knowledgeable and an incredible force for good’ Dr Xand van Tulleken

‘[A] unique combination of research, clinical, and deeply personal perspectives on one of the great societal challenges of our time’ Nav Kapur, Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health, University of Manchester

‘An essential read. Honest and unflinching, but always thoughtful and compassionate’ Dr Niall Boyce, Editor, Lancet Psychiatry