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World Mental Health Day: PM appoints suicide prevention minister World Mental Health Day: PM appoints suicide prevention minister
(35 minutes later)
A minister for suicide prevention has been appointed in England by the prime minister as the government hosts the first ever global mental health summit.A minister for suicide prevention has been appointed in England by the prime minister as the government hosts the first ever global mental health summit.
Theresa May said the appointment of Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price to the new role will help tackle the stigma surrounding suicide.Theresa May said the appointment of Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price to the new role will help tackle the stigma surrounding suicide.
While suicide rates are falling, 4,500 people take their own lives every year.While suicide rates are falling, 4,500 people take their own lives every year.
The appointment comes as ministers and officials from more than 50 countries assemble in London for the summit.The appointment comes as ministers and officials from more than 50 countries assemble in London for the summit.
Wednesday's meeting - hosted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - coincides with World Mental Health Day.Wednesday's meeting - hosted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - coincides with World Mental Health Day.
The government has also promised more support in schools, bringing in new mental health support teams and offering help in measuring students' health, including their mental wellbeing.The government has also promised more support in schools, bringing in new mental health support teams and offering help in measuring students' health, including their mental wellbeing.
Ms May said: "We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence and prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives."Ms May said: "We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence and prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives."
Alongside the announcement, the prime minister pledged £1.8m to the Samaritans so the charity can continue providing its free helpline for the next four years.Alongside the announcement, the prime minister pledged £1.8m to the Samaritans so the charity can continue providing its free helpline for the next four years.
Where to go if you need helpWhere to go if you need help
If you, or someone you know, is struggling, there are a number of charities here to help.If you, or someone you know, is struggling, there are a number of charities here to help.
Hannah Lewis - who campaigns for improvements to mental health services having suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and suicidal thoughts as a teenager - said that it can be a year before someone who is referred for help actually begins treatment.Hannah Lewis - who campaigns for improvements to mental health services having suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and suicidal thoughts as a teenager - said that it can be a year before someone who is referred for help actually begins treatment.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Mental health is known to deteriorate when you are left without help, and you can only imagine how things got worse with me." She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Mental health is known to deteriorate when you are left without help, and you can only imagine how things got worse with me."
Ms Lewis welcomed the government's announcement - especially the proposals to bring more awareness of mental health into schools - but she added: "More joined-up working at schools and early intervention is great, but we need to make sure then there are sufficient services to be signposted to."Ms Lewis welcomed the government's announcement - especially the proposals to bring more awareness of mental health into schools - but she added: "More joined-up working at schools and early intervention is great, but we need to make sure then there are sufficient services to be signposted to."
'Stories of pain and loss'
Mrs Doyle-Price, who has been an MP since 2010, will now become the minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention.Mrs Doyle-Price, who has been an MP since 2010, will now become the minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention.
As health is devolved separately to the UK's four nations, her role will include making sure each local area in England has effective plans to stop unnecessary deaths and to look into how technology could help identify those at risk.As health is devolved separately to the UK's four nations, her role will include making sure each local area in England has effective plans to stop unnecessary deaths and to look into how technology could help identify those at risk.
She said: "I understand how tragic, devastating and long-lasting the effect of suicide can be on families and communities. She said she understood the "tragic, devastating and long-lasting" effect of suicide on families, having met some of those bereaved.
"In my time as health minister, I have met many people who have been bereaved by suicide and their stories of pain and loss will stay with me for a long time. "It's these people who need to be at the heart of what we do," she added.
"It's these people who need to be at the heart of what we do and I welcome this opportunity to work closely with them, as well as experts, to oversee a cross-government suicide prevention plan, making their sure their views are always heard." Manchester University's Prof Louis Appleby, one of the country's leading experts on suicide, said having a minister for suicide prevention would "open doors" and make it easier to have conversations about the role such things as benefits and online gambling have in suicidal people's lives.
'Open doors'
Manchester University's Prof Louis Appleby, one of the country's leading experts on suicide, said it was an "important" move to have a minister for suicide prevention.
He said suicide was not just a health issue, but cut across numerous government departments.
He said having a minister would help "open doors" and make it easier to have conversations about suicide and the role of everything from benefits to online gambling.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the appointment would also help with getting support for mental illness on a par with services for physical health.Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the appointment would also help with getting support for mental illness on a par with services for physical health.
"There is a long road to travel to get there. This is not something you solve overnight," he said."There is a long road to travel to get there. This is not something you solve overnight," he said.
#ICryBecause#ICryBecause
The Only Way Is Essex star Tommy Mallet wants to encourage other men to open up about their feelings.The Only Way Is Essex star Tommy Mallet wants to encourage other men to open up about their feelings.
Mallet, who has spoken about his mental health struggles during the current ITVBe series, has started a campaign #icrybecause on social media.Mallet, who has spoken about his mental health struggles during the current ITVBe series, has started a campaign #icrybecause on social media.
He said he had experienced "a tough few months" but wanted to use that to help people, adding: "Just letting you all know it's OK not to be OK."
His co-stars have also got involved, revealing what makes them cry.His co-stars have also got involved, revealing what makes them cry.
Read more about their campaign here.Read more about their campaign here.
But others criticised the government's record on mental health.But others criticised the government's record on mental health.
Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, said: "While we applaud the intention, it is striking that the UK should be hosting such a summit when we hear daily about people left untreated due to a lack of nurses and doctors. Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, said there had not been enough improvements to services since Mrs May pledged to tackle the issue two years ago.
"This failure of psychiatric services has huge social and economic implications. "While we applaud the intention [of the announcement], it is striking that the UK should be hosting such a summit when we hear daily about people left untreated due to a lack of nurses and doctors," she said.
"Two years ago, Theresa May announced a comprehensive plan to tackle the 'hidden injustice' of mental illness in our country, yet in recent weeks there have been disturbing reports that people are being detained in police cells for up to six days for the lack of NHS beds, children referred to specialist services being turned away and lives being damaged due to long waits to get treatment.
"The prime minister must examine our own mental health system before addressing other countries.""The prime minister must examine our own mental health system before addressing other countries."