The announcement comes ahead of the release of Tom’s second album, I Am, due for release on 31 May. One of the tracks, ‘Lifeline’, pays tribute to his friend who died by suicide in March 2023.
Data shows that one in five people will have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime*, with someone dying by suicide every 90 minutes on average in the UK**. But suicide can be prevented with the right support and interventions. One of those tools is talking about suicide to stop the stigma silencing people’s struggles and preventing people from seeking help.
On becoming a Campaign Against Living Miserably Ambassador, Tom said: “Sadly I know first-hand the devastation that suicide can bring and I know the stigma and shame that still surrounds the subject that stops people talking about it. That’s why I’m so proud to be a CALM ambassador – I want to do whatever it takes to raise awareness of the vital work they do and encourage more people to open up and have those conversations that can help save lives. Anyone can feel suicidal and if, through my music and by being an ambassador, I can help make sure one person reaches out for help, then I will be so happy. I’m so energised by the difference I know I can make by working with CALM and what we can do together in the future.”
Need help? Call CALM’s helpline, 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. More information about CALM and its life-saving work can be found via the CALM website.
