The LGA is offering bespoke support to councils trying to reduce the number of people taking their own lives.
In 2020, there were 5,224 lives lost to suicide in England and Wales.
Each case brings unimaginable pain to family, friends and the wider community. Suicide prevention is, therefore, not only a mental health priority, but also a public health priority, locally and nationally.
The impact of the pandemic on suicide rates is as yet unclear, and there has been no recorded increase in registered deaths from suicide.
We have seen increases in people asking for support around their mental health, and we know that the pandemic has eroded many of the ‘protective factors’ surrounding mental health.
Local authorities are essential in supporting residents to increase and improve these protective factors, such as good-quality housing and strong community links.
In 2013, councils were given responsibility by the Government for suicide prevention, along with a number of other public health responsibilities.
They are in a prime position to collaborate with stakeholders such the police, clinical commissioning groups, NHS England, coroners, the voluntary sector, and their local communities to develop multi-agency suicide prevention groups, as well as local suicide prevention strategies and action plans.
Despite not being a statutory requirement, as of April 2019 all local authorities in England have suicide prevention plans in place, with more than half starting to deliver some of the actions in their plans.
To support this essential work, the LGA is pleased to continue to work with the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, to deliver a suicide prevention sector-led improvement programme for 2022.
The programme will include: a series of case studies providing relevant examples of local and regional good practice for suicide prevention; a national webinar; and regional grants for suicide prevention activity through ADPH networks.
In addition, councils are now invited to submit an expression of interest for bespoke local support. I am so pleased we can offer support to up to 15 local authorities, for any aspect of suicide prevention that affects them at a local or national level.
We welcome applications from councils with their partners, as multi-agency working is crucial for dealing with the complexity of suicide prevention. The deadline for applications is 21 April.
Previous council support has focused on protected characteristics, partnership working, information sharing, bereavement support, system approaches, and frequently used locations.
You can also find case studies from previous years on our website. For example, Kirklees Council’s suicide prevention action group established a men’s mental health workstream, bringing together statutory and community-led services that work with at-risk men.
Aiming to understand the breadth of work being done, as well as gaps in provision, Kirklees has worked to encourage open dialogue between commissioners and providers, to raise awareness of three specialist projects that support men, as well as getting suicide prevention recognised as a priority by senior leaders and politicians.
Suicide takes so much from our communities and wider society – but the good news? It can be prevented. The pandemic has shone a light on the importance of not just physical health, but also our mental health.