Experts come together to mark World Suicide Day
A workshop drawing together clinicians and experts in suicide prevention across Thames Valley and Wessex will be hosted by NHS England and NHS Mental Health Service providers* on World Suicide Day on Tuesday 10 September.
During the workshop, attendees will hear from family members who will talk about the loss of a loved one who has died by suicide. The workshop will also feature presentations on national and regional initiatives from Dr Geraldine Strathdee, NHS England Clinical Director of Mental Health and Professor Keith Hawton, Director of the Centre for Suicide Research at Oxford University and Consultant Psychiatrist with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
In England, one person dies every two hours as a result of suicide. When someone takes their own life, the effect on their family and friends is devastating. Many others involved in providing support and care also feel the impact. Every year, almost one million people in the world die from suicide; a “global” mortality rate of 16 deaths in every 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds. In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60 per cent worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15 to 44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10 to 24 year old age group.**
The focus of the workshop is to share national and regional best practice and develop suicide prevention across Thames Valley and Wessex. Attendees include specialists from mental health service providers, commissioners, clinical commissioning groups, health and wellbeing boards and representatives from the third sector. The aim of the event is to develop a regional suicide prevention planning network.
Julie Kerry, Assistant Director of Nursing, Patient Experience, and South of England Mental Health Homicide Lead, said: “We want to mark World Suicide Day proactively, by drawing together across organisations all those involved in suicide prevention, to focus on how we can improve the support we offer and work better and more innovatively together.”
Professor Keith Hawton, Director of Oxford University Centre for Suicide Research, said: “Identifying people who are at risk of suicide and implementing effective treatment and prevention measures are extremely challenging. This event is an excellent opportunity to share learning and best practice with the full range of health professionals involved in suicide prevention in a geographical area and enhance work already in place on suicide prevention”.
The workshop will add to events and action across the globe, which aim to prevent suicides and improve support.