PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
World Suicide Prevention Day - 8 September 2026 (Commons/Westminster Hall)
Debate Detail
Contributions from Alison McGovern, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Liz Twist
Blaydon and Consett
I beg to move,
That this House has considered World Suicide Prevention Day.
I am grateful for having secured this debate, Sir Christopher, and it is a pleasure to see you in the Chair for it. This Thursday is World Suicide Prevention Day, an event marked through the World Health Organisation. Each year, 10 September provides a moment for individuals, communities and Governments around the globe to unite behind one clear, unambiguous message: that suicides are preventable.
That this House has considered World Suicide Prevention Day.
I am grateful for having secured this debate, Sir Christopher, and it is a pleasure to see you in the Chair for it. This Thursday is World Suicide Prevention Day, an event marked through the World Health Organisation. Each year, 10 September provides a moment for individuals, communities and Governments around the globe to unite behind one clear, unambiguous message: that suicides are preventable.
09:30:00
Jim Shannon
Strangford
I thank the hon. Lady for securing this debate on World Suicide Prevention Day. The Farm Safety Foundation has surveyed some 450 farmers under the age of 40, of whom 92% identified poor mental health as one of the leading hidden problems facing farmers today. Those challenges can be further compounded by stigma and reluctance to seek help, which are particularly prevalent in rural communities. Is the hon. Lady aware of the challenges people in rural farming communities face when trying to access mental health support? Does she agree that more must be done for that sector, who seem overwhelmingly to suffer isolation?
09:30:00
Liz Twist
I am indeed aware of that work and of the difficulties faced by the farming community, and it is important that we address those. This year, as in the last two years, the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, accompanied by a direct call to action to start the conversation.
09:30:00
Lee Pitcher
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
I thank my hon. Friend for the amazing work that she continues to do day in, day out on this subject. I filmed a documentary last week called “Walking Men”—it will be out later this year—about how we support local groups to get men talking on a regular basis. Will she join me in saying thank you to all the people out there who do that? Does she agree that the Government need to get behind local groups, who know their area and their people and can make a massive difference?
Liz Twist
I am pleased to hear about that work, and I certainly agree that it is vital that we support all those who are making efforts locally to address the issue of suicide.
Changing the narrative means a conscious, collective shift away from the culture of silence, stigma and misunderstanding that has plagued this subject for generations. It requires us to move towards openness, empathy and genuine support, to create an environment where people feel able to speak openly about their distress without fear of judgment. We must reach a point at which talking about suicidal thoughts is met with compassion rather than fear and where seeking help is viewed as a sign of strength.
Changing the narrative means a conscious, collective shift away from the culture of silence, stigma and misunderstanding that has plagued this subject for generations. It requires us to move towards openness, empathy and genuine support, to create an environment where people feel able to speak openly about their distress without fear of judgment. We must reach a point at which talking about suicidal thoughts is met with compassion rather than fear and where seeking help is viewed as a sign of strength.
Kim Johnson
Liverpool Riverside
I thank my hon. Friend for this timely and important debate. The point about changing the narrative is very important. Will she support me in congratulating Alfie’s Squad, who are here today for World Suicide Prevention Day, and all the football clubs, including Everton and Liverpool, for the work they do in engaging with people with suicidal thoughts?
11:05:07
Liz Twist
I look forward to meeting Alfie’s Squad later today; they are doing a great job on suicide prevention in my hon. Friend’s area. I will come on to the Premier League shortly.
I turn to the global statistics. The World Health Organisation calls suicide a “major public health challenge” and estimates that it claims the lives of more than 720,000 people every year. In the UK, the latest Office for National Statistics figures show that in 2024 there were 7,147 deaths registered where the cause was recorded as suicide. We know from the data that men account for three in four of those deaths, and that suicide is the biggest single cause of death for men under the age of 50.
I turn to the global statistics. The World Health Organisation calls suicide a “major public health challenge” and estimates that it claims the lives of more than 720,000 people every year. In the UK, the latest Office for National Statistics figures show that in 2024 there were 7,147 deaths registered where the cause was recorded as suicide. We know from the data that men account for three in four of those deaths, and that suicide is the biggest single cause of death for men under the age of 50.
Amanda Martin
Portsmouth North
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate and for her dedication and hard work in this space. As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for tradespeople, and having previously served on the all-party parliamentary group on male suicide and mental health, I am concerned that the construction industry faces a suicide risk 3.7 times higher than the national average. Will she join me in ensuring that the men’s health strategy moves from paper to practical action in workplaces, particularly in the construction industry? When we talk about workers coming home safely, that must mean both physically and mentally.
11:06:58
Liz Twist
Having done some work with the construction sector, I know exactly what my hon. Friend is talking about and how much attention must be paid to that issue.
Sadly, my region, the north-east, has the highest number of deaths by suicide. That is not a league table that we want to top. The latest figures put the north-east’s rate at 15.1 deaths per 100,000 people. For men who have been referred to secondary mental health services, it climbs to 157.8 per 100,000. That harsh reality demands urgent, targeted intervention.
Whenever we see such statistics in Parliament, we must immediately remind ourselves that there are real people behind the numbers. Each one of those individuals whose life was cut short leaves behind a devastating legacy of grief. The ripple effect of a single suicide spreads relentlessly through families, circles of friends and workplaces, and inflicts severe social and emotional consequences on entire communities.
Sadly, my region, the north-east, has the highest number of deaths by suicide. That is not a league table that we want to top. The latest figures put the north-east’s rate at 15.1 deaths per 100,000 people. For men who have been referred to secondary mental health services, it climbs to 157.8 per 100,000. That harsh reality demands urgent, targeted intervention.
Whenever we see such statistics in Parliament, we must immediately remind ourselves that there are real people behind the numbers. Each one of those individuals whose life was cut short leaves behind a devastating legacy of grief. The ripple effect of a single suicide spreads relentlessly through families, circles of friends and workplaces, and inflicts severe social and emotional consequences on entire communities.
Jessica Morden
Newport East
Like everyone else, I acknowledge the tremendous work that my hon. Friend does on this issue; it is inspirational. Since she mentions families, I want to take the opportunity to thank my constituent Emma Webb, who tragically lost her daughter, Brodie, aged just 16. My hon. Friend is aware of Emma, who has spent years tirelessly fundraising for and raising awareness of suicide prevention. Alongside the bands doing a benefit for the Samaritans in the pub, there is a lot of work going on locally that we should acknowledge.
11:08:30
Liz Twist
I know that campaign, and I met my hon. Friend’s constituent as she pulled her pony along to raise money. She is doing tremendous work in that area.
Alongside the immeasurable human cost of suicide, there is a stark economic reality. Extensive statistical work conducted by the Samaritans and provided by Mind calculates the economic cost of a single suicide as roughly £1.46 million. No one in this Chamber would ever wish to reduce a human life to an entry on the Treasury balance sheet, but that figure demonstrates that proper investment in suicide prevention is an economic necessity as well as a clear moral imperative.
Alongside the immeasurable human cost of suicide, there is a stark economic reality. Extensive statistical work conducted by the Samaritans and provided by Mind calculates the economic cost of a single suicide as roughly £1.46 million. No one in this Chamber would ever wish to reduce a human life to an entry on the Treasury balance sheet, but that figure demonstrates that proper investment in suicide prevention is an economic necessity as well as a clear moral imperative.
Sarah Olney
Richmond Park
Like everybody else, I thank the hon. Lady for her incredibly important work in this field. Alongside my constituent Philip Pirie, I have been calling on the Government to launch a public health campaign to tackle the stigma around suicide. Former Health Secretaries have actively supported the call, alongside the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the hon. Lady herself. Does she agree that the Prime Minister needs to prioritise breaking down the barriers and the stigma, and work in a cross-party way with Members of this House to support my campaign?
11:14:45
Liz Twist
I will mention the hon. Lady’s constituent later; I am aware of the great work that he has done after the loss of his son by suicide. I agree that we all need to get behind that campaign, and I have no doubt that the Prime Minister will be keen to do that too.
The statistics paint a bleak picture, but I want to focus on the positive work being done across the UK on and around World Suicide Prevention Day to prevent suicide and change the narrative. There are so many organisations and individuals working to build hope and fighting to reverse these trends, offering real, practical help and support to people who are struggling.
When we look at our statutory services, we must recognise the vital role played by our national health service. I pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication of NHS mental health staff, who work under immense pressure every single day to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in crisis. But NHS talking therapies and other work can support only those who are successfully referred, and a significant gap remains among those accessing that care. For instance, despite having acute mental health needs, men account for only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies. That mismatch shows that, even with the outstanding commitment of frontline clinicians, statutory services cannot carry the weight of suicide prevention alone. They rely on close partnerships with community and voluntary organisations to reach people before they reach crisis.
The statistics paint a bleak picture, but I want to focus on the positive work being done across the UK on and around World Suicide Prevention Day to prevent suicide and change the narrative. There are so many organisations and individuals working to build hope and fighting to reverse these trends, offering real, practical help and support to people who are struggling.
When we look at our statutory services, we must recognise the vital role played by our national health service. I pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication of NHS mental health staff, who work under immense pressure every single day to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in crisis. But NHS talking therapies and other work can support only those who are successfully referred, and a significant gap remains among those accessing that care. For instance, despite having acute mental health needs, men account for only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies. That mismatch shows that, even with the outstanding commitment of frontline clinicians, statutory services cannot carry the weight of suicide prevention alone. They rely on close partnerships with community and voluntary organisations to reach people before they reach crisis.
Laura Kyrke-Smith
Aylesbury
I commend my hon. Friend for her courageous work on this issue, and for introducing the debate today. Will she join me in thanking those organisations in my constituency, including Scott Grover’s work with his Men Walking and Talking group and the fantastic work of Steve and Talk Club? Talk Club has a lovely approach where they sit, talk and listen. They will not just ask whether people are okay; they will say, “On a scale of one to 10, how are you feeling today?”, and that opens up conversations about mental health and suicide in such a powerful way. Will my hon. Friend join me in thanking all my fantastic local groups for their efforts?
Liz Twist
I most certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking her local groups for that work. It is good to hear about so much attention being given to Men Walking and Talking in local groups where they can access help. I suppose we should mention Andy’s Man Club as well, which does amazing work across the country to get men talking.
Mr Luke Charters
York Outer
I thank my hon. Friend for all her work on this issue. I struggled with my own mental health after the traumatic birth of my son, as I think she knows. It was friends and family, including my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Alison Hume), who helped me, but in York we also have fantastic local groups like Menfulness, founded by Dr Jack Woodhams. Will she praise them and thank them for getting men to talk, whether through sport, football or walking?
Liz Twist
I thank my hon. Friend for sharing the struggles that he has had; by talking, we can learn more about them and tackle the issue. I certainly join him in thanking Menfulness. People are doing amazing work.
I want to talk about Samaritans. Samaritans began in 1953 in the city of London, founded by Chad Varah and arising from his experience of seeing lives lost to suicide—people who had no one to speak to. He advertised a telephone number that those contemplating suicide could call to speak to someone about how they were feeling. That work continues today, and is built on by the many outreach activities and the policy work led by Samaritans. I thank the many Samaritans volunteers who continue to listen and reach out in their local area to prevent suicides, including those in my local Tyneside Samaritans branch.
Tomorrow evening, Samaritans will mark World Suicide Prevention Day with a reception in Speaker’s House, held alongside the Premier League. The Premier League is doing excellent work in using the vast reach of football to support men, encouraging open conversations among groups who traditionally do not seek help. The charity Mind has a similar commitment, and it will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in this House on Thursday morning. I am incredibly proud to sponsor its parliamentary reception this week, which will bring together campaigners, partners and clinicians to champion Mind’s vital work in our communities and to ensure that suicide prevention remains at the very top of our legislative agenda.
I want to talk about Samaritans. Samaritans began in 1953 in the city of London, founded by Chad Varah and arising from his experience of seeing lives lost to suicide—people who had no one to speak to. He advertised a telephone number that those contemplating suicide could call to speak to someone about how they were feeling. That work continues today, and is built on by the many outreach activities and the policy work led by Samaritans. I thank the many Samaritans volunteers who continue to listen and reach out in their local area to prevent suicides, including those in my local Tyneside Samaritans branch.
Tomorrow evening, Samaritans will mark World Suicide Prevention Day with a reception in Speaker’s House, held alongside the Premier League. The Premier League is doing excellent work in using the vast reach of football to support men, encouraging open conversations among groups who traditionally do not seek help. The charity Mind has a similar commitment, and it will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in this House on Thursday morning. I am incredibly proud to sponsor its parliamentary reception this week, which will bring together campaigners, partners and clinicians to champion Mind’s vital work in our communities and to ensure that suicide prevention remains at the very top of our legislative agenda.
Alison Hume
Scarborough and Whitby
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. Autistic people are three times as likely as non-autistic people to die by suicide or attempt suicide. The 2023 suicide prevention strategy for England was the first to recognise autistic people as being at a higher risk of suicide. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need an update on progress for autistic people under the strategy, and on how the Government intend to incorporate autism into future suicide prevention strategies?
Liz Twist
I certainly agree with my hon. Friend’s concerns about the need for action on autism. She may be pleased to hear that the all-party groups on suicide and self-harm prevention and on autism will be doing joint work on the matter in the near future. I thank her for her intervention and am sure that the Minister has heard her request for an update.
I will now unashamedly name-check several organisations in the north-east, although I do so with some trepidation because there are so many other groups that I will not be able to mention. We benefit immensely from the presence of the James’ Place charity in Newcastle, which provides specialist, rapid clinical interventions for men in suicidal crisis. The way it operates in our region is saving lives.
I highlight the incredible work of If U Care Share, which is based in County Durham. Its roots are embedded in the local community, offering emotional support and postvention care. It was formed from personal experience, following the death by suicide of one of the family, a young man, which I know still affects the family and a much wider group of people, and is still a real impetus for their work and fundraising.
I also recognise the charity SoBS, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, which provides peer-led support to families who are navigating an uniquely complex and isolating form of grief.
I will now unashamedly name-check several organisations in the north-east, although I do so with some trepidation because there are so many other groups that I will not be able to mention. We benefit immensely from the presence of the James’ Place charity in Newcastle, which provides specialist, rapid clinical interventions for men in suicidal crisis. The way it operates in our region is saving lives.
I highlight the incredible work of If U Care Share, which is based in County Durham. Its roots are embedded in the local community, offering emotional support and postvention care. It was formed from personal experience, following the death by suicide of one of the family, a young man, which I know still affects the family and a much wider group of people, and is still a real impetus for their work and fundraising.
I also recognise the charity SoBS, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, which provides peer-led support to families who are navigating an uniquely complex and isolating form of grief.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith
Chingford and Woodford Green
The hon. Lady is reading out a list of very good charities; I congratulate her on securing this debate. May I draw her attention to Ripple and Alice Hendy, to whom we at the Centre for Social Justice gave an award? Her “brown shield” technical device means that every time someone searches for a harmful site, something pops up to tell them where they can go for help and support. That has had a huge effect and needs to be rolled out further into schools and so on. I know that the hon. Lady knows that charity.
Liz Twist
The right hon. Gentleman touches on another angle, namely the world of the internet, which provides such a challenge. The work of Ripple is important in preventing that harm, but there is so much more to do. I congratulate Ripple on its award.
Jami UK is a Jewish mental health organisation with which I have done a good deal of work; given the subject of our previous debate today, it seems particularly appropriate to mention it. It does fantastic work in London and beyond, and is a regular contributor to the APPG.
Individuals have also transformed personal tragedy into relentless campaigning. We have already heard about Philip Pirie, who has worked on an assessment of suicide risk and is now pushing for training on it to be mandatory for NHS staff. The 3 Dads Walking campaign has captured the attention of the entire country. After losing their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily to suicide, they marched together across the UK to demand that suicide prevention be taught in schools.
Jami UK is a Jewish mental health organisation with which I have done a good deal of work; given the subject of our previous debate today, it seems particularly appropriate to mention it. It does fantastic work in London and beyond, and is a regular contributor to the APPG.
Individuals have also transformed personal tragedy into relentless campaigning. We have already heard about Philip Pirie, who has worked on an assessment of suicide risk and is now pushing for training on it to be mandatory for NHS staff. The 3 Dads Walking campaign has captured the attention of the entire country. After losing their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily to suicide, they marched together across the UK to demand that suicide prevention be taught in schools.
Amanda Martin
It is amazing that my hon. Friend is highlighting the fact that, so very often, out of tragedy come amazing families campaigning. I want to raise the case of Chloe Holland and Skye Nicholls. Their families have been campaigning because their family members took their own life following coercive control. Does my hon. Friend agree that we must recognise the devastating link between suicide and coercive control, and ensure not only justice, but proper recognition and response?
Liz Twist
My hon. Friend makes a really important point. I congratulate those families—“congratulate” does not seem the right word, but they are doing such amazing work in her community and it is really important to mention. My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that part of the work plan for the APPG relates to the link between suicide and domestic abuse in its various forms. I look forward to working with her on that issue.
I mentioned 3 Dads Walking, who do absolutely fantastic work. Changes are being made to the relationships, sex and health education curriculum this year to pick up on that work and ensure that children are able to discuss suicide in a safe and age-appropriate way.
Most working adults spend a large part of their day at work, so employers clearly have a role to play. Last year, the British Standards Institution published BS 30480, the first formal standard for workplace suicide prevention. I was pleased to work on it with the BSI alongside employers, trade unions and suicide prevention experts. That guidance has now been downloaded over 13,500 times.
However, despite the immense amount of work being done by charities, campaigners and so many others, we have not yet managed to change the narrative completely. I know that I risk sounding like a broken record in this House on the issue, but while the overall figures stubbornly refuse to come down, I will continue to be a broken record. We need to bring the numbers down. As the World Health Organisation says, changing the narrative needs systemic change. As the Mental Health Foundation has argued for years, we need early intervention so that people receive support before their situation becomes acute.
I mentioned 3 Dads Walking, who do absolutely fantastic work. Changes are being made to the relationships, sex and health education curriculum this year to pick up on that work and ensure that children are able to discuss suicide in a safe and age-appropriate way.
Most working adults spend a large part of their day at work, so employers clearly have a role to play. Last year, the British Standards Institution published BS 30480, the first formal standard for workplace suicide prevention. I was pleased to work on it with the BSI alongside employers, trade unions and suicide prevention experts. That guidance has now been downloaded over 13,500 times.
However, despite the immense amount of work being done by charities, campaigners and so many others, we have not yet managed to change the narrative completely. I know that I risk sounding like a broken record in this House on the issue, but while the overall figures stubbornly refuse to come down, I will continue to be a broken record. We need to bring the numbers down. As the World Health Organisation says, changing the narrative needs systemic change. As the Mental Health Foundation has argued for years, we need early intervention so that people receive support before their situation becomes acute.
Chris Bloore
Redditch
I join other hon. Members in congratulating my hon. Friend on securing the debate and on her lifetime of support for this cause. She makes such a valid point about changing the narrative and the stigma around suicide. This Government have made an incredible announcement of £343 million for walk-in mental health services. We are asking people to talk about how they are feeling and about how bad their mental health is, but they need those walk-in centres so that they can get treatment at the point that they feel suicidal. Will my hon. Friend join me in calling on my local integrated care board to ensure that Redditch, which has the highest rate of poor mental health in Worcestershire, gets the mental health walk-in centre that it so deserves?
Liz Twist
I am not sure I know enough about my hon. Friend’s local area to tell his local ICB what to do, but I am sure he does, and I am sure he is making the case to his local ICB for walk-in centres in his area.
The new mental health hubs and emergency centres that were announced over the summer will be a vital step forward, as my hon. Friend says, in providing community-based support through capital funding. I hope that that will be followed by the revenue funding to provide the staff and resources to deliver consistent care, and I hope that the Minister can provide a bit more detail on the revenue question; I welcome her to her new post and am glad that she is here to answer the debate. The national suicide prevention strategy has just passed its halfway point, which makes this the ideal moment to assess what is working and where we need to do more. A great many actions have arisen from the strategy, which I commend, but sadly the numbers have not shifted.
For men, who make up 75% of those who die by suicide, how can we address their specific concerns? Can the Minister say what actions will be taken to revise the strategy so that it can achieve its goal of reducing suicides? Can she also say what she will do to ensure that mental health has parity of esteem with physical health, which was the subject of another Westminster Hall debate that I secured not long ago? Will she join me and other Members in thanking all the third sector organisations and individuals who do so much to change the narrative, and recognise their importance in preventing suicide? I hope that she will continue to work closely with me and the APPG to ensure that these strategies deliver the systemic change that we desperately need.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, we reflect on what we must do to make a real difference. We can achieve that by ending the silence, funding the services and treating mental health with the urgency that it demands. That is how we will finally change the narrative, and that is how we will save lives.
The new mental health hubs and emergency centres that were announced over the summer will be a vital step forward, as my hon. Friend says, in providing community-based support through capital funding. I hope that that will be followed by the revenue funding to provide the staff and resources to deliver consistent care, and I hope that the Minister can provide a bit more detail on the revenue question; I welcome her to her new post and am glad that she is here to answer the debate. The national suicide prevention strategy has just passed its halfway point, which makes this the ideal moment to assess what is working and where we need to do more. A great many actions have arisen from the strategy, which I commend, but sadly the numbers have not shifted.
For men, who make up 75% of those who die by suicide, how can we address their specific concerns? Can the Minister say what actions will be taken to revise the strategy so that it can achieve its goal of reducing suicides? Can she also say what she will do to ensure that mental health has parity of esteem with physical health, which was the subject of another Westminster Hall debate that I secured not long ago? Will she join me and other Members in thanking all the third sector organisations and individuals who do so much to change the narrative, and recognise their importance in preventing suicide? I hope that she will continue to work closely with me and the APPG to ensure that these strategies deliver the systemic change that we desperately need.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, we reflect on what we must do to make a real difference. We can achieve that by ending the silence, funding the services and treating mental health with the urgency that it demands. That is how we will finally change the narrative, and that is how we will save lives.
Alison McGovern
The Minister for Social Care
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Christopher. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist), whose leadership on the issue since she joined the House has been second to none. We are all extremely grateful to her.
As colleagues will understand, this debate must conclude at 11.30 am. I will do my best to make some remarks today on behalf of the Government, but I assure hon. Members that I have taken a note of all their contributions today and will relay them to the teams working on the mental health strategy. I hope that colleagues know that my door is always open to those who want to influence the forthcoming mental health strategy, particularly on this issue. I look forward to working with them all.
Every life lost to suicide is one life too many. That is why ensuring that fewer lives are lost to suicide is a priority, as my hon. Friend says. As we come together to discuss World Suicide Prevention Day, I reaffirm the Government’s commitment to delivering the suicide prevention strategy for England. We have already made important progress, from improving our ability to detect emerging trends through near real-time surveillance to strengthening suicide prevention practice across services and investing in targeted support for those groups that are most at risk, which several hon. Members have mentioned and which is clearly very important.
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is changing the narrative. That provides us with the opportunity to reflect on how to approach suicide prevention, and it challenges us to do more to prevent suicide. We want a society in which people feel able and safe to discuss their mental health, as hon. Members have done—particularly my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters), who made an important contribution about his own mental health. We want people to be supported to express their experience of suicidal thoughts and to seek help. Mental health support has a vital role to play in that.
The 10-year health plan set out a bold ambition—to reform the NHS and to change the way mental health support is provided, investing £343 million in capital funding to make that change—but we need to go further. That is why we are developing a cross-Government mental health strategy for England. As my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett mentioned, I am relatively new to this role. It is good to be the Minister of State for mental health; although I am new to the Department of Health and Social Care, hon. Members will know that I am not new to this issue, and particularly not to the impact of mental health on getting people into work and moving on, so I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with colleagues.
The strategy will aim to transform mental health care into a system that responds earlier and helps people to stay active and participating, which we know is so important preventively and for good mental health. Like the suicide prevention strategy, it will look beyond the NHS and will consider the role of schools, workplaces and the voluntary sector, for all the reasons that colleagues have mentioned. We need to meet people where they are.
Suicide is complicated. There are a range of factors outside the mental health system that we also need to address. The suicide prevention strategy identifies evidence-based factors, including financial difficulty, substance misuse, harmful gambling—a topic that I personally feel very passionate about—domestic abuse, physical illness, social isolation and loneliness. Many of those risk factors are closely linked to wider health inequalities. This is a complicated subject.
Opportunities to prevent suicide do not exist solely within mental health services. Three quarters of people who die by suicide are not in contact with NHS mental health services, but are in contact with other services and other support systems. We must make the most of those opportunities. Earlier this year, for example, my ministerial colleague Baroness Merron, alongside the brilliant charity Money and Mental Health, convened senior stakeholders from financial services to discuss the role that they can play in supporting people—both customers and employees—who are at risk of suicide. That is the kind of approach that we need to model. We will identify and maximise opportunities to make sure that every person who requires support can readily get help in their community, as colleagues have asked, as a principle that should underpin our approach.
Colleagues have mentioned the impact on men. It is so important that we recognise that, particularly with middle-aged men at risk of suicide, who might need support from multiple services; colleagues will be aware of the men’s health strategy that we announced recently.
I will end by briefly mentioning the work of the Premier League. I know only too well that football gets men talking. I am so proud that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Riverside (Kim Johnson) mentioned, we have taken the opportunity to make the national game a place that helps people to open up and talk. I say: more of that!
Question put and agreed to.
As colleagues will understand, this debate must conclude at 11.30 am. I will do my best to make some remarks today on behalf of the Government, but I assure hon. Members that I have taken a note of all their contributions today and will relay them to the teams working on the mental health strategy. I hope that colleagues know that my door is always open to those who want to influence the forthcoming mental health strategy, particularly on this issue. I look forward to working with them all.
Every life lost to suicide is one life too many. That is why ensuring that fewer lives are lost to suicide is a priority, as my hon. Friend says. As we come together to discuss World Suicide Prevention Day, I reaffirm the Government’s commitment to delivering the suicide prevention strategy for England. We have already made important progress, from improving our ability to detect emerging trends through near real-time surveillance to strengthening suicide prevention practice across services and investing in targeted support for those groups that are most at risk, which several hon. Members have mentioned and which is clearly very important.
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is changing the narrative. That provides us with the opportunity to reflect on how to approach suicide prevention, and it challenges us to do more to prevent suicide. We want a society in which people feel able and safe to discuss their mental health, as hon. Members have done—particularly my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters), who made an important contribution about his own mental health. We want people to be supported to express their experience of suicidal thoughts and to seek help. Mental health support has a vital role to play in that.
The 10-year health plan set out a bold ambition—to reform the NHS and to change the way mental health support is provided, investing £343 million in capital funding to make that change—but we need to go further. That is why we are developing a cross-Government mental health strategy for England. As my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett mentioned, I am relatively new to this role. It is good to be the Minister of State for mental health; although I am new to the Department of Health and Social Care, hon. Members will know that I am not new to this issue, and particularly not to the impact of mental health on getting people into work and moving on, so I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with colleagues.
The strategy will aim to transform mental health care into a system that responds earlier and helps people to stay active and participating, which we know is so important preventively and for good mental health. Like the suicide prevention strategy, it will look beyond the NHS and will consider the role of schools, workplaces and the voluntary sector, for all the reasons that colleagues have mentioned. We need to meet people where they are.
Suicide is complicated. There are a range of factors outside the mental health system that we also need to address. The suicide prevention strategy identifies evidence-based factors, including financial difficulty, substance misuse, harmful gambling—a topic that I personally feel very passionate about—domestic abuse, physical illness, social isolation and loneliness. Many of those risk factors are closely linked to wider health inequalities. This is a complicated subject.
Opportunities to prevent suicide do not exist solely within mental health services. Three quarters of people who die by suicide are not in contact with NHS mental health services, but are in contact with other services and other support systems. We must make the most of those opportunities. Earlier this year, for example, my ministerial colleague Baroness Merron, alongside the brilliant charity Money and Mental Health, convened senior stakeholders from financial services to discuss the role that they can play in supporting people—both customers and employees—who are at risk of suicide. That is the kind of approach that we need to model. We will identify and maximise opportunities to make sure that every person who requires support can readily get help in their community, as colleagues have asked, as a principle that should underpin our approach.
Colleagues have mentioned the impact on men. It is so important that we recognise that, particularly with middle-aged men at risk of suicide, who might need support from multiple services; colleagues will be aware of the men’s health strategy that we announced recently.
I will end by briefly mentioning the work of the Premier League. I know only too well that football gets men talking. I am so proud that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Riverside (Kim Johnson) mentioned, we have taken the opportunity to make the national game a place that helps people to open up and talk. I say: more of that!
Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended.
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