Debbie Laycock, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns
“It’s a chilling statistic that the thing most likely to kill me, a man under 50, is me. It is nothing short of a national scandal that suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in this country. It is a catastrophe that we should be reading about in the media every single day. And it’s a catastrophe that’s seemingly all too easy to ignore and that has to change. I know the responsibility resting on my shoulders to keep this issue at the top of the policy agenda and I promise that I will do so with urgency and compassion.”
These were the powerful words of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – Wes Streeting MP – at last week's Samaritans World Suicide Prevention Day Parliamentary Reception.
World Suicide Prevention Day is a moment to remember loved ones lost to suicide, and an opportunity to remind us all of the interventions we can take to recognise and reach out to someone who is in crisis. But it is also a rallying cry. A moment in time when we can ask those in positions of power – what are YOU doing to end suicides.
Last week was the first time that I have heard Wes Streeting speak at length about suicide prevention. He spoke passionately about why the issue was important to him personally as well as to the Government.
Topics of discussion
The Men’s Health Strategy
He spoke about the upcoming Government Men’s Health Strategy reinforcing that he is “....adamant that mental health and suicide prevention were at the heart of our men’s health strategy.” Wes shared that “It can be hard to be a young man in today’s society. Too many of us feel unable to talk about our struggles, bound by stigma and outdated notions of masculinity. So we’ll invest in services that reach men where they are, encourage open conversations and break down barriers to seeking help.” It is a welcome commitment.
If the strategy – due out in November – is to push forward efforts to reduce the number of men taking their own life, it must take a holistic, preventative approach, addressing not only the mental health system, but also the social and economic conditions that underpin male suicide.
Moving towards a safer internet
In an ever-evolving digital world with technology at the forefront of our daily lives, if we are to lower suicide rates, the Government must ensure a safer internet – tackling harmful content on suicide and self-harm and ensuring that the online environment can be a place of safety to seek supportive advice and compassionate peers.
Wes said that “Social media platforms especially have a duty to protect vulnerable people using their apps....The onus is now firmly on tech firms to recognise that this disgusting, immoral material has no place on their networks, and to root it out. This is a crisis that demands that the whole of society come together.”
A positive step last week was the brand-new Secretary of State for DSIT, Liz Kendall MP, confirming that self-harm material will be added to the list of priority offences in the Online Safety Act. This must be the start of continued action, and the momentum must continue. Government and Ofcom must use all their powers to remove dangerous contact that has already contributed to too many lives being lost.
The importance of charities
Suicide prevention charities across the country heard warm words last week of how important our work is. The Prime Minister said that “On this important day, I would also like to express sincere thanks to all the professionals, volunteers, friends, and family members who support those in distress and work tirelessly to save lives.”
MPs of all parties acknowledged the vital work of suicide prevention charities, including Samaritans. Wes himself wrapped up his speech by saying “I want to end by recognising all the charities, volunteers and community groups that provide so much support to so many people. I know full well the weight that you take off the NHS and the care you provide. It might go too often unsung but it definitely does not go unnoticed by me or by this government.”
But it was the Liberal Democrat Mental Health Spokesperson Danny Chambers MP during the House of Commons World Suicide Prevention Day debate who spoke of the elephant in the room when he asked the Government why it’s VCSE Suicide Prevention Fund had been ended and if the Government will look again at reinstating it.
Warm words aren’t enough if our charities do not have sufficient funding to continue supporting often the most marginalised in society. Every suicide prevention charity will tell you times are hard and that demand for services is ever increasing. And if the Government recognises that our services help to prop up the NHS than it must now put some money where its mouth is.
It’s time for action
It has been over a year since this Government won the election. A long year with a lot on its plate (to put it mildly). For the past 12 months it has been largely silent on suicide prevention. There has been no clarity on how it will meet its commitment of tackling suicide as one of the biggest killers. But we are continuing to see more cross-party focus and political pressure on suicide prevention. And we have a health secretary who has now made clear that tackling suicides is a personal priority for him.
Wes’ parting words were:
Let’s not forget that hope is possible. With the right support, recovery is possible. With the right intervention, lives can be saved. It’s possible to create a country where every person who reaches out for help is met with compassion, dignity and the right support. Our duty is to make it a reality.
Now, Samaritans will be demanding to see how these words turn into action before we lose more lives to suicide.