Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: The Latest Government Guidance

In the ongoing battle against suicide, Verity Mallion, the Suicide Prevention Lead at the Department of Health and Social Care, delivered an insightful keynote at our National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 on the latest government guidance and updates aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving support for vulnerable individuals. This is summarised below, with the full presentation available above.

The keynote provides a deep dive into the government’s new national suicide prevention strategy for England, which was launched to address the complex and evolving challenges associated with suicide prevention. The strategy is designed to be dynamic and responsive, reflecting current trends, insights, and evidence while fostering collaboration across sectors.

The strategy’s development was influenced by societal changes, including the increased role of social media, online harms, the cost-of-living crisis, and the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Provisional data for 2023 indicates a concerning rise in suicides, the first in several years, highlighting the urgent need for action.

Priority Areas for Action

The strategy centres on eight priority areas, each designed to tackle specific facets of suicide prevention. While some elements build on previous approaches, there is a greater focus on emerging risks and more targeted interventions. For instance, online safety has been given a dedicated chapter, recognising the impact of the internet on vulnerable individuals. The strategy aims to reduce online harms while also leveraging digital platforms to enhance support services and signposting.

Crisis support, traditionally linked to mental health services, has been expanded. The strategy recognises that effective crisis support must extend beyond NHS settings and involve a wider range of organisations, including the voluntary sector and other community services.

A significant theme of the strategy is “Making Suicide Prevention Everybody’s Business.” Suicide prevention is not the sole responsibility of the health sector—it requires collaboration across public and private sectors, local communities, and employers. The workplace, in particular, has been identified as a key setting where preventative measures can make a substantial impact.

Addressing Emerging Risk Factors

The strategy also shines a spotlight on new and emerging risk factors. These include financial difficulties, domestic abuse, and gambling. Research has shown that economic adversity, such as unemployment, debt, and housing issues, is closely linked to increased suicide risk. Domestic abuse has also been highlighted, with evidence showing that victims, perpetrators, and witnesses are all at higher risk of suicide. The strategy addresses these complex risk factors through targeted interventions.

Groups such as autistic individuals and new or expectant mothers are also included. Although overall suicide risk in these groups may not be as high, they face unique challenges that necessitate focused support. For example, while women in the perinatal period are not at higher risk compared to others their age, suicide remains the leading cause of death among women six weeks to a year after giving birth.

Implementing the Strategy

While the publication of the strategy is a key step, its success will rely on the effective implementation of its 139 action points. Some progress has already been made, such as the introduction of the Online Safety Act to tackle harmful content and the launch of a real-time suicide surveillance system. This system helps monitor national suicide trends, allowing for quicker responses to emerging issues.

Related Articles:

The Road to Online Safety Regulation: Safeguarding Children Against Sexual Harms

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As new data becomes available, the strategy will continue to evolve, ensuring it remains relevant and effective. Collaboration across sectors is vital, with all organisations encouraged to align their own suicide prevention plans with the national strategy. This collective approach is essential for achieving significant reductions in suicide rates across the country.

Moving Forward

Verity Mallion’s keynote underlines the government’s commitment to tackling suicide with an updated, evidence-based strategy that addresses both long-standing and emerging challenges. By focusing on a collaborative approach, addressing new risk factors, and ensuring that crisis support is accessible in various settings, the strategy aims to make a real difference in reducing suicide rates and improving support for vulnerable individuals across the country.

As Mallion highlighted, suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Government, communities, employers, and the voluntary sector all have a role to play in saving lives. The success of this strategy depends on collective action and sustained effort over the coming years.

This was presented at our National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024. For more information on The Online Safety Act, please see our latest event below.

The Online Safety Conference 2024: Safeguarding Children in a Digital World

Keynote: The Online Safety Act: A National Update on Online Harms for Children and Young People

• A national update on the impact of the new legislation for professionals with safeguarding responsibilities
• Advice for engaging with social media platforms to remove and report harmful material
• Guidance on providing children, families, and carers with clear information about accessible ways to report potential online safety issues
• Strategies for dealing with new offences under the Online Safety Act including sexual abuse and revenge porn

Rich Collard, Associate Head of Policy – Child Safety Online, NSPCC