Agenda item

[To inform the Health and Wellbeing Board of the progress made in relation

to the requirements outlined in the national suicide prevention strategy

Preventing Suicide in England: A Cross Government Outcomes Strategy to Save Lives.  In particular, progress in relation to the Mental Health and

Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment, completed jointly with Wolverhampton

Samaritans, the establishment of a multiagency Wolverhampton Suicide

Prevention Stakeholder Forum and the development of a Suicide Prevention

Action Plan for Wolverhampton.

In addition to gain the Board’s approval for the approach being taken and the

action plan, including any comments the Board has to make.]

        [Ros Jervis]

Neeraj Malhotra, Public Health Consultant (Transformation) presented a report and gave a PowerPoint presentation which informed the Board on the progress made in relation to the requirements outlined in the national suicide prevention strategy “Preventing Suicide in England: A Cross Government outcomes Strategy to Save Lives”. In particular, the report detailed progress in relation to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment” which had been completed jointly with Wolverhampton Samaritans, the establishment of a multi-agency Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum and the development of a Suicide Prevention Action Plan for Wolverhampton. She confirmed that West Midlands Police and the Voluntary Sector had been involved actively in the production of the Action Plan.

She explained that there was an increasing need to reach out to white males and to some ethnic minority groups who were highly susceptible to suicide attempts. She advised that attempted suicide was often associated with social deprivation but was not so closely linked to this as some other health issues. She reported that the majority of cases had not been known previously to “Specialist Services”.

Dr Helen Hibbs enquired as to whether any data was available as to if potential cases had made contact with Primary Health Care in order to seek support. The Public Health Consultant (Transformation) undertook to analyse the available data.

David Martin confirmed that the Wolverhampton Branch of The Samaritans confirmed that this organisation was committed fully to the Action Plan and explained the organisations involvement in its formulation. This included the adoption of Public Health England guidelines on suicide prevention. He reported that the cost to the local economy of cases of suicide exceeded £1 million. He reported further that there were six steps to reducing incidences of suicide and that the first three had now been addressed. The remaining three steps were being tackled robustly including working with Pharmacies, Network Rail and British Transport Police. Work was also on-going with the media with a view to positive messages being issued.

Cllr Roger Lawrence commended the work that had been undertaken on this issue and advised that it was a topic which was raised often with him during Councillor Surgeries and whilst conducting his role as Leader of the Council. Professor Linda Lang confirmed that the University of Wolverhampton worked closely with the Wolverhampton Branch of The Samaritans and other Charities in order to signpost individuals and groups to relevant services.

David Martin advised that his organisation also worked closely with other charitable organisations but commented that the “Mental Health Resource Directory” was not an easy tool to use, especially for those in desperate circumstances. He suggested that this was an issue which needed to be addressed.

The Public Health Consultant (Transformation) reported that 53 individuals had received training in respect of signposting to appropriate services. Donald McIntosh advised that Healthwatch Wolverhampton was also undertaking work on public wellbeing.

Resolved:

1.     That the overall partnership approach taken to suicide prevention be endorsed;

2.     That the establishment of a Suicide Prevention Stake holder Forum be approved and that the Forum be charged with improving the Mental Health Resource Directory;

3.     That the Suicide Prevention Action Plan be approved;

4.     That the inclusion of suicide prevention work as an additional workstream within the Crisis Concordat programme be approved;

5.     That the Suicide Needs Assessment be noted;

6.     That compliance with national requirements for a suicide audit / needs assessment stakeholder forum and action plan be noted;

7.     That the early progress made to date on the action plan tasks be noted.