10.10.18
Prime minister announces UK’s first suicide prevention minister
Theresa May has announced that Jackie Doyle-Price will become the UK’s first minister for suicide prevention.
Doyle-Price will lead a new national government effort on suicide prevention to cut the number of suicides, working with national and local government, experts in suicide and self-harm prevention, charities, clinicians and those affected by suicide.
The role will involve ensuring every local area has an effective suicide prevention plan in place and look at how the latest technology can be used to identify those most at risk.
It reported that around 4,500 people take their own life each year in England, with suicide remaining one of the leading causes of death for men under 45.
Matt Hancock said: “We’re already making progress when it comes to suicide prevention – the suicide rate is at its lowest for seven years.
“But we need to do more to challenge the stigma that people with mental ill-health face and make sure they feel they can reach out for help.
“I am delighted we are appointing Jackie Doyle-Price as our dedicated minister for suicide prevention, and I know she will make a real difference.”
He added: “Every suicide is a preventable death and we are determined to do everything we can to tackle the tragedy of suicide.”
Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, and the prime minister has made several other announcements around children and young people’s mental health today on World Mental Health Day.
The Samaritans’ helpline will receive up to £1.8m of government funding, ensuring the charity will be able to operate and remain free for the next four years.
Starting in 2019, the government will also publish a ‘State of the Nation’ report every year on World Mental Health Day, and recruitment has begun for new mental health support teams in schools.
Speaking at a Downing Street reception marking World Mental Health Day, May said: “When I first became prime minister, I stood on the steps of Downing Street and pledged to fight the burning injustices in our society.
“There are few greater examples than the injustices facing those with mental health conditions. But together we can change that.”
She continued: “We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives.
“And we can give the mental wellbeing of our children the priority it so profoundly deserves.”
Dr Phil Moore, chair of NHS Clinical Commissioners’ Mental Health Commissioners Network, and Sean Duggan, chief executive of NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network, both wrote in the latest issue of NHE about children and young people’s mental health and the digitisation of mental health services.
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