Suicide to Zero
With the passing of World Suicide Day 10 September 2023 many organisations such as The Samaritans. MIND as well as the UK Government have highlighted the efforts, they are trying to achieve with many initiatives particularly for high risk groups.
In the Governments five year strategy plan (Sep 11 2023) they are trying to provide intervention for groups such as pregnant women, children and young people, middle aged men, those who self-harm, those in contact with the justice system, those in financial difficulties as well as other groups..
Northern Ireland Initiative
Northern Ireland have adopted a "Suicide to Zero" initiative, making a co-ordinated approach to reducing suicide and noted that those who had taken their own life had accessed mental health services in the previous year and so saw these people as vulnerable to taking their own life so paid extra attention to their well-being, plugging any perceived gaps in mental health services. In Liverpool they had a 23% reduction in the rate of suicide by implementing the Protect Life 2 strategy.
Aims for Suicide to Zero?
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Reduce the incidence of repeat self-harm presentation to hospital Emergency Departments
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Enhance community capacity to prevent and respond to suicidal behaviour within local communities.
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Deliver a multi-sectoral training programme in suicide awareness and intervention.
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Improve awareness of suicide prevention and associated services.
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Improve support for those caring for someone who is suicidal
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Ensure the provision of effective and timely information and tailored support for individuals and families bereaved by suicide
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Identify emerging suicide clusters and act promptly to reduce the risk of suicides in the community
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Deliver a multi-sectoral training programme in suicide awareness and intervention.
How Liverpool are trying to boost their suicide prevention programme
Northern Ireland have adopte Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that, tragically, the suicide rate in Liverpool is increasing and is now higher than the average for England. Liverpool’s rate is comparable to that of the North-West and other UK cities where communities face similar challenges, such as poverty and loneliness, which can impact mental health. That’s why Liverpool is taking a strong, collaborative approach to suicide prevention, bringing together key partners to better understand the risks and work collectively to address them.
As part of their wider partnership work to prevent suicides, Liverpool City Council joined the global community in marking World Suicide Prevention Day today, Tuesday 10th September 2024. As part of the theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide: Start the Conversation,” the Council illuminated key city landmarks to symbolise hope and create spaces for reflection.
Dorset's strategy to boost their suicide prevention programme
In Dorset the NHS is taking a multi-agency approach with the formation of The Suicide Prevention Partnership Group which will use Real Time Surveillance data to look at the most recent patterns of suicide, draw on the experience of those who have been impacted by suicide, appoint a media and a bereavement specialist. There is also a need to work with Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) groups and out of this was created the Dorset Community Mental Health Alliance (DCMHA). Better Mental Health First Aid training was also a desire as well as the need for co-ordinated social media campaigns. One obstacle though is the lack of information provided by Dorset Police of ‘Real Time Data’. This was reported in the Dorset Echo last year (May 23, 2022) and this position hadn’t changed when I spoke to Nick Rowe, Chairman of the DCMHA earlier this year.
With the fallout from the pandemic creating a greater risk of suicide, as well as those already accessing mental health services, other groups at risk are young people and middle-aged men on low or little income. What mental health authorities should also be doing is to encourage councils, companies, and other organisations to train people up as Mental Health First Aiders, keep promoting/signposting the Dorset Retreats and Community Front Rooms (Mental Health Walk in Clinics) signposting to the many organisations and engage more people in social media.
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