In commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Welsh Government has today launched a national advisory service as well as fresh guidance in a bid to help all those impacted by suicide.
The National Advisory and Liaison Service will provide people with fast, sensitive and compassionate support, as well as regular contact from a liaison officer for as long as necessary. The support can be delivered via:
- Phone
- Face-to-face appointments
- Video call
National service
The Jac Lewis Foundation, a local mental health charity in Wales, has been selected to host the national service. “We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to deliver the National Advisory and Liaison Service in Wales,” said the organisation’s CEO, Liz Thomas-Evans.
She added: “This service will ensure critical support is available to individuals and families throughout Wales who have been affected by suicide, working with other bereavement services to provide the essential support, guidance, and resources they need during their most difficult times.
“We are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families, helping to build a more compassionate and supportive Wales.”
The move comes as recent figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that the number of deaths by suicide increased last year in Wales – from 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 to 14 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023.
Wales’ mental health minister, Sarah Murphy, described the new service as an “invaluable first port of call”.
New guidance
The new guidance is targeted at a range of ‘touch point’ organisations and agencies, which are a constant in people’s experiences of bereavement and unexplained deaths.
This includes everything from first responders, GPs and primary care teams, to employers, workplaces, and mortuary and coroners’ offices.
Similarly to the national service, the new guidance has been designed in conjunction with those with lived and professional experience in the matters at hand.
“This guidance will help organisations better understand their role in supporting people bereaved or affected by suicide,” said Murphy.
“We want to ensure all those who are affected receive timely, compassionate and effective support where and when they need it.”
Both the guidance and the nationwide service are a part of the Welsh Government’s Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy, which is expected to be published in full later this year.
“Through the ongoing development and implementation of our Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy we will explore what more can be done to prevent suicide in Wales,” concluded Wales’ mental health minister.
Image credit: Welsh Government
