Suicide prevention in England: 5-year cross-sector strategy [Sept 2023]

This strategy sets out the national ambitions for suicide prevention over the next 5 years and the steps we will collectively need to take to achieve them. This includes individuals, organisations across national and local government, the NHS, the private sector, the VCSE sectors, and academia.

The aim of this cross-government strategy is to bring everybody together around common priorities and set out actions that can be taken to:

The overall ambitions set by this strategy are to:

•     reduce the suicide rate over the next 5 years – with initial reductions observed within half this time or sooner
•     continue to improve support for people who self-harm
•     continue to improve support for people who have been bereaved by suicide

The strategy sets out over 100 actions led by government departments, the NHS, the voluntary sector and other national partners to make progress against these areas.

Creative photo research opportunity for young people with lived experience of depression or persistent low mood

Researchers at the University of Sussex are looking for young people aged 14-17 with lived experience of depression or persistent low mood to take part in a creative photo study about mental images of the self.

The study involves taking photos that represent the mental images you have of yourself, and then taking part in an interview to discuss the photos and your experiences of mental images and depression/low mood more generally. This will take around 2-3 hours over 1 week, and participants will receive a £20 Amazon voucher as a thank you.

To take part, you must:

- Be aged 14-17
- Have lived experience of depression or persistent low mood
- Live in the UK

If you are interested in taking part, please click the following link for more information or to sign up: https://bit.ly/mentalimagerystudy

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact the research team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Discovery Journal - A new self-harm management workbook for 10-17 year-olds

Battle Scars are a small, dedicated, 100% survivor-led and run charity offering local, regional, national as well as international support around self-harm.

• Are you between 10 and 17 years old?
• Do you do things that cause your body and mind harm (including not eating properly)?
• Would you like to change all or some parts of this behaviour?
• Would you like to find ways to manage self-harm and life without having to hurt yourself?

If you answered yes to these questions, you can request the Discovery Journal for free. It will be posted out to you in a discreet padded envelope with no mention of Battle Scars or self-harm. Please bear in mind they are only posted in batches every few weeks so be patient. You can order free and confidentially here: https://www.battle-scars-self-harm.org.uk/workbook-for-10-17-year-olds.html

The book must be ordered by the young person. If you're a carer or a professional, you need to show this page to the young person and let them decide whether they wish to order it or not - ​they must be ready to work on their self-harm, NEVER FORCE anyone to try.

The book is not a 'cure' or a sure way to stop self-harming but a way to build healthier tools that work for you to manage self-harm and put yourself on a better path.

North Durham MP secures debate in parliament on scrapping of the 10-Year Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan

Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham has secured a Westminster Hall debate on the subject of the 10-Year Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan, which was consulted on last year but has since been scrapped. The Government say the consultation responses will now “inform the government’s major conditions and suicide prevention strategies” – so clearly not what was initially promised.

Kevan Jones MP said: “For too long, mental health has not been afforded the same priority, funding, or resource as physical health. However, less than a year after promising a dedicated 10-Year Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan, the Government has scrapped it.

This is simply unacceptable when waiting lists for treatment, a patchwork of provision and confusing care pathways continue to make it difficult for people to get the help they need. I will be pressing the Government on its broken promise on Wednesday (15th March). We need bold, long-term action on mental health to improve outcomes, make early intervention a reality, and broaden the range of services to those with severe mental health illnesses.”

For more details see the order papers here: https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/75864/Html?subType=Standard#20230309-65

Or tune in to the debate here from 11am-11.30am on Wednesday 15th March 2023: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

This May Help: Advice for supporting your child’s mental health

A new website ThisMayHelp https://thismayhelp.me - gives easy-to-follow and practical advice to help manage your child’s mental health.

It has been developed by NHS professionals and parents who’ve been through their own child’s mental health journey and includes some familiar faces to get the message across.

CQC/NHS Community mental health survey results 2022

The NHS patient survey asked about the experiences of people who use community mental health services.  

https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/surveys/community-mental-health-survey

This report shows that people’s experiences of mental health services provided in the community remain poor. Many of the areas with the poorest historical results, are still the poorest in 2022.

Most notably, access to care, crisis care, involvement in care and support and wellbeing are key areas which have been highlighted as being poor over a number of years.

Consistent with 2021 results, findings this year showed that people who received their care via telephone, younger people (aged 18 to 35) and those with more challenging and severe non-psychotic disorders were less likely to report positive experiences.

Trusts and commissioners are expected to take action to improve services based on the results.

Breakdowns for the responses relating to our local trusts can be found here, including useful comparisons with other trusts in England.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) Benchmark Report 2022
https://nhssurveys.org/wp-content/surveys/05-community-mental-health/05-benchmarks-reports/2022/RX3_Tees,%20Esk%20and%20Wear%20Valleys%20NHS%20Foundation%20Trust.pdf

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) Benchmark Report 2022
https://nhssurveys.org/wp-content/surveys/05-community-mental-health/05-benchmarks-reports/2022/RX4_Cumbria,%20Northumberland,%20Tyne%20and%20Wear%20NHS%20Foundation%20Trust.pdf

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

This week, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published its final statutory report.

The report sets out the main findings about the extent to which state and non-state institutions failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation and makes recommendations for reform.

Over 7,300 victims and survivors engaged with the work of the Inquiry. More than 700 gave evidence at public hearings or provided statements. Over 6,200 came forward to share their experiences at the Truth Project and nearly 1,800 joined the Inquiry’s Victims and Survivors Forum.

For full details of the main report, the 20 recommendations and other related reports see: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/final-report

New Briefing - Poverty, economic inequality and mental health

The Centre for Mental Health has published another timely and helpful briefing in the context of the post COVID increase in demand for mental health services and the growing cost of living crisis.

The briefing highlights the need to tackle the factors that cause and worsen mental ill health.  Poverty, economic inequality and mental health, by Ed Davie, explores evidence about the links between these factors, showing that living in poverty increases people’s risk of mental health difficulties, and that more unequal societies have higher overall levels of mental ill health. The briefing also demonstrates that poverty and economic inequality intersect with structural racism to undermine the mental health of racialised and marginalised groups in society.  Policy makers must prioritise reducing these factors as an urgent public health necessity.

Actions to improve mental health recommended by the report include increasing incomes and reducing the costs of the poorest people in society. This would involve increasing benefits and paying the Living Wage, help with housing and childcare costs for the least well-off, and improving access to vital services in the most deprived areas.

https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/briefing-58-poverty-economic-inequality-and-mental-health

Open up to the film-makers and help them write a better film

The Mar Sin Leat team are looking to speak to Fathers who made the difficult decision not to take their child to their spouses funeral.

With Covid-19 we’ve come to know loneliness and loss at unprecedented levels. It reminded us of our human need for connection and of the importance of mental health. ‘Mar Sin Leat’ (farewell in Scottish Gaelic) is a short drama currently in development, about grief, reconciliation, and forgiveness.

It focuses on two characters: Fergus, part of an older generation of men taught to hide their emotions, and his daughter Skye, a transgender woman keen to be seen and heard for who she is.

When Skye arrives at her father’s farm to bury her beloved childhood pet Archie, father and daughter inadvertently re-enact what should have been her Mother’s funeral.

Skye hasn’t experienced loss since her mother died when she was just a child. At the time, Fergus believed not taking her to the funeral was the right thing to do but Skye always felt she was denied closure. Burying Archie together forces them to face their feelings.

The filmmakers believe that in today’s polarized world, it’s important we tell stories that promote compassion and empathy and that’s exactly what this short will do!

Mar Sin Leat’ partnered with charities Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland and At a Loss, who believe this short will help

instigate a shift in society’s attitude towards bereavement and mental health - topics that are still very much taboo, particularly amongst men.

‘At this stage of development, the filmmakers are looking to speak to widowed fathers who made the difficult decision of not taking their children to their spouse’s funeral, hoping to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to be in their shoes. If this is your story, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For every conversation, the Mar Sin Leat team makes a small donation to one of their partner charities or to a charity of choice, on behalf of those who take the time to share their story with them.

Web: https://marsinleat.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MarSinLeat
TW: @Marsinleatshort
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M: 07979 464 005