Suicide rates in England 'not fallen since 2018' as government announce new 5 year strategy

The government has set out a new strategy to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in England every year.

It declares its success depends on the support of national government effort, as well as continued action across the NHS, local government, the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sectors, employers and individuals.

It also admits that while suicide death rates have dropped 20% in the two decades, progress has stalled since 2018, with around 5000 people taking their own lives each year.

Strategy sets out its priorities to bring down deaths

The strategy declares new "common priorities" and sets out actions that can be taken to:

• reduce the suicide rate over the next 5 years – with initial reductions observed within half this time or sooner
• improve support for people who have self-harmed
• improve support for people bereaved by suicide

The strategy also aims to provide 'tailored, targeted' support to priority groups including middle aged-men, autistic people and pregnant or new mums.

It'll also look at common risk factors including gambling issues, alcohol and drug misuse, domestic abuse, and social isolation.

More than 100 actions across government departments aim to make "make suicide everybody’s business so that we can maximise our collective impact and support to prevent suicides"

WATCH: Where's Your Head At? campaigner Natasha Devon responds to strategy

"Suicide is everyone's business"

Maria Caulfield MP, Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health, said: "While this strategy sets out ways that we can prevent suicides for everyone over the next 5 years, we must ensure we also continue to look at what we can do for groups where we see higher suicide rates or have observed concerning trends.

"I would like to end on a call to action for everyone. One of the key themes of this strategy is that suicide is everyone’s business and everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention. I believe this to be true now, more than ever.

"We must support each other to ensure that no one feels like their only option is to take their own life."

Cautious reaction from campaigners

Reacting to the report, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England Simon Blake told Greatest Hits Radio: "This is the start line, not the finish line, and we've got to make sure we are actively working across a whole raft of sectors to make sure the changes are implemented, but also holding the government to account.

"How does this translate into practice? The aspiration that there are no gaps to fall down is the right one, it's what we, and other organisations have been calling for.

"The gap at the moment of course is will there be the money to make sure these arrangements are in place and will their be the political will at a national, regional and local level?"

The report sets out there's a £10m pot available to community groups and charities currently available for grant funding, and a further £150m of capital funding for emergency or urgent care.

Employers urged to support staff as part of strategy

The strategy also calls on employers to play their part in reducing the number of lives lost to suicide each year.

It says: "While this is imperative for workers engaging with more vulnerable members of the public, every employee should feel supported and every employer should ensure that support is known and available.

We strongly encourage all employers to have adequate and appropriate support in place for employees, such as people trained in mental health first aid, mental health support and suicide prevention awareness.

"Employers should also encourage employees to take the time to look after their mental health, focusing on prevention as well as providing support."

Where's Your Head At? response to strategy

Natasha Devon, co-founder of the Where's Your Head At? campaign is calling for all businesses to be legally obliged to have mental health first aiders available to all their staff.

She's told us the latest strategy doesn't go far enough: "This is what we come up against again and again with successive Conservative governments.

"They want to be seen to be taking action but without imposing anything which may inconvenience businesses.

"What we're going to end up with here is some fantastic employers whose staff are going to get all the support they need, while others will get nothing at all.

"For me this is going to further increase the inequalities we're already seeing.

"I don't think the employers who would already be reticent to make this change (because they don't think its important, or don't particularly care about the wellbeing of their staff) are going to be moved by this document.

"This document, by its very nature, is going to appeal to employers who already get it."

You can read the new strategy in full here

Support services for mental health problems

If you want to find mental health support services where you are visit hubofhope.co.uk

You can text SHOUT to 85258

Call Samaritans on 116 123

Or speak to your GP.

If someone's life is in immediate danger, call 999