Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell has welcomed confirmation from the Department for Health and Social Care, Public Health England (PHE), and NHS England of the start of a three year programme worth £25 million that will reach the whole country by 2021 to develop suicide prevention and reduction schemes.
It forms part of the government’s commitment to reduce suicides in England by 10% by 2021 and will support the zero suicide ambition for mental health inpatients announced by Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt in January of this year.
Commenting, Steve said:
“I welcome this announcement for additional funding to raise awareness of help available to those who may be contemplating suicide.”
“During mental health awareness week it is important to highlight that currently one person every 90 minutes dies by suicide in the UK and approximately two thirds of these are not in contact with mental health services.”
“That is why it is important that this government has recognised this and released this funding, which has been allocated to eight areas with a high level of need to help to ensure people know high quality confidential help is available within their community.”
“It will include targeted prevention campaigns for men, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK; psychological support for people with financial difficulties; better care after discharge; and improved self-harm services for all ages.”
“The funds are set to improve suicide prevention strategies, signposting and raising awareness through to improving quality for safer services and will help drive better surveillance and collection of data on suicide, attempted suicide and self-harm.”
The funding announced builds upon major work from all local authorities to put multi-agency suicide plans in place, and work for a close join up between health services, public health teams and the voluntary sector.
The £25m investment over three years is in addition to significant investment in mental health as part of the NHS’ Five Year Forward View for mental health to deliver accessible high quality care. This includes expansion in crisis care for all ages, children and young people’s services and services for pregnant women and new mothers which should also support a reduction in suicides.