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UK appoints its first minister for suicide prevention Mental health services under-resourced, says Matt Hancock
(about 3 hours later)
The prime minister has appointed what is thought to be the world’s first minister for suicide prevention in a bid to cut the number of people taking their own lives. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has conceded that mental health services have been under-resourced and undervalued as he announced the appointment of a minister for suicide prevention.
Health minister Jackie Doyle-Price will lead the national effort and try to end the stigma which stops people from seeking help, Theresa May announced as she marked World Mental Health Day. Jackie Doyle-Price, a health minister, will be given the new brief and tasked with ensuring that every local area has effective plans in place to stop unnecessary deaths, and investigating how technology can help identify those most at risk.
Around 4,500 people take their lives every year in England and suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under the age of 45. A report by Whitehall’s spending watchdog, released on Wednesday, found that even if current plans to spend an extra £1.4bn on the sector were delivered, there would be “significant unmet need” because of staff shortages, poor data and a lack of spending controls on NHS clinical commissioning groups.
The prime minister has also pledged up to £1.8 million to ensure the Samaritans’ helpline remains free for the next four years, to help those most in need. Hancock said the National Audit Office report showed service provision was “still way off where we need to be” but improvements had been made.
Speaking at a reception to mark World Mental Health Day, May is expected to say: “When I first became Prime Minister, I stood on the steps of Downing Street and pledged to fight the burning injustices in our society. “The truth is that, for an awfully long time, mental health has simply not had the same level of support – both in terms of resources, but also in terms of how we as a society talk about it – compared to physical health, and we want to change that,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“There are few greater examples than the injustices facing those with mental health conditions. But together we can change that. We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives. And we can give the mental wellbeing of our children the priority it so profoundly deserves.” As well as having a minister for suicide prevention, the government wanted to ensure that “as we write the long-term plan for the future of the NHS, which we are writing at the moment, we make sure that mental health is a crucial component of that”.
May will also say that “parity of care” is a priority of the NHS long-term plan, which will include “record investment” in mental health. Doyle-Price, whose new title will be minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention, said she would put bereaved families at the heart of her strategy. She is believed to be the world’s first minister for suicide prevention.
Doyle-Price, now minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention, will ensure every local area has effective plans in place to stop unnecessary deaths and investigate how technology can help identify those most at risk. She said in a statement: “I understand how tragic, devastating and long-lasting the effect of suicide can be on families and communities. 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.
She said: “I understand how tragic, devastating and long-lasting the effect of suicide can be on families and communities.
“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 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.”“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.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “We’re already making progress when it comes to suicide prevention, the suicide rate is at its lowest for seven years. At a reception on Wednesday to mark World Mental Health Day, Theresa May will say mental health provision is one of the “burning injustices” she pledged to tackle when she became prime minister.
“But we need to do more to challenge the stigma that people with mental ill-health face and make sure they feel they can reach out for help.” “Together we can change that,” she will say. “We can end the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence. We can prevent the tragedy of suicide taking too many lives. And we can give the mental wellbeing of our children the priority it so profoundly deserves.”
The government has also reasserted its commitment to tackling mental health among young people, through new mental health support teams that will work with schools to ensure young people get the help they need. The prime minister has also pledged up to £1.8m to ensure the Samaritans’ helpline remains free for the next four years, as well as new mental health support teams for schools, who will be given help to measure their students’ health, including their mental wellbeing.
Schools will also be given help to measure their students’ health, including their mental wellbeing, under the plans. However, the children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, thought the proposed five-year plan was too long to wait for some children, and said five years “feels like a lifetime to a young child”.
• In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or emailjo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. “I want to see a counsellor in every secondary school, every primary school having access to counselling services, a closing of the huge gap in what is spent on adult and children’s mental health and a system in place that provides support and treatment for every child who needs it, when they need it,” she said. “Today’s announcement is a step forward that must now be matched by proper funding and more ambitious delivery.”
Politics • In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or emailjo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
Health policy
Mental health
Matthew Hancock
Theresa MayTheresa May
HealthHealth
Suicide ratesSuicide rates
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