The Government has published its Suicide Prevention Strategy which aims to reduce the number of suicides that take place in England each year. While over recent years we have seen a 20% reduction in the number of suicides in England compared to two decades ago, progress has recently stalled post covid.
The new strategy sets out the government’s ambitions over the next 5 years to: reduce suicide rates in identified particular high risk groups such as middle aged men and new mums, improve outcomes for people who have self-harmed by increasing the help they can access and improve support for people bereaved by suicide who are themselves at increased risk of suicide.
The strategy has gained widespread cross party support among other political parties and organisations and recently Maria Caulfield MP was joined by Alastair Campbell at an event in Parliament hosted by Rethink Mental Illness to discuss the challenges people are facing with their mental health.
The new suicide preventions strategy includes steps and actions from across government and a wide range of organisations to achieve these ambitions with the aim to reduce the suicide rate over the next 5 years – with initial reductions in half this time. A £10 million grant for voluntary organisations who work in suicide prevention has also been launched and local groups are encouraged to apply.
Initiatives which will be implemented include, the roll out of mental health ambulances with over 100 being in place by early next year, mental health first aid in the work place and the roll out of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.
The strategy can be found on the UK government website.