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Male Suicide in Rotherham 2025-03-24 (1)
24 March 2025
Lead MP
Jake Richards
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHSEducationTaxation
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Jake Richards raised concerns about male suicide in rotherham 2025-03-24 (1) in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
In Rotherham, male suicide is a silent tragedy on the rise. As the local MP, I receive too many calls or messages early in the morning or late at night, telling me about another husband, father, brother or friend who has died in these tragic circumstances... The numbers for men are startling and worth stating bluntly: suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 50. Men account for three out of four suicides in England and Wales. A hundred men end their lives each week across the country. In Rotherham, men account for 79% of suicides... Beyond each individual tragedy is a wider story. There is a specific challenge for policymakers in grappling with male suicide... I am very aware of specific issues to do with gambling and male suicide... Social media and technology have allowed vulnerable users easier access to gambling... There are broader issues. Although the issue of men’s mental health is complex, there are specific policy areas that the Government must confront. First, the rates of men taking their own lives are highest in the most deprived communities... Secondly, we must save our NHS. This Government inherited a dilapidated health service and a particularly severely under-resourced mental health service... Thirdly, in my view we must be bolder in acknowledging the role that technology and social media have played in this crisis.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
In Doncaster last year, 80% of those who died from suicide were men, and we have one of the largest numbers of veterans in the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber. Will my hon. Friend join me in promoting its work, particularly around the veteran-friendly suicide prevention training that makes a huge difference to all the people who take part in it?
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Does he agree that we need greater accessibility to mental health services in deprived areas to ensure that men are not left behind?
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Would my hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to Veterans In Need Together? He talks about organisations that support men. That organisation supports men every Wednesday at Morley fire station without fail and offers support to those who need it.
Winchester
On that point, it is known that those living in poverty are three times more likely to take their own lives or have mental health issues than people on the average wage. Linking into that, 85% of homeless people are men, and their homelessness is often related to mental health issues.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Does he agree that we must also consider the employment-related, sectoral issues in tackling male suicide?
Dorking and Horley
I agree that families face legal barriers when their loved ones are over 18, due to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
In Portsmouth, suicide is the leading cause of death among males aged between 20 and 49, with veterans and construction workers needing more targeted support.
Government Response
The minister's response is not provided in the given text. I acknowledge the issue raised by my hon. Friend Jake Richards regarding male suicide rates and mental health services. The Government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head-on, focusing on middle-aged men as a priority group. We are expanding support for individuals with gambling addictions through specialist clinics and recruiting 8,500 new mental health workers. Additionally, the government is providing £26 million in capital investment to open new mental health crisis centres. The suicide prevention strategy identifies online safety as a priority area, working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to address harmful content promoting suicide and self-harm. The Government recognises the importance of keeping young people safe while they benefit from technology advancements. By summer, new protections for children will be enforced through the Online Safety Act 2023 to ensure protection from harmful content and age-appropriate experiences online. The focus is also on early intervention in mental health challenges faced by young people, which involves providing access to mental health professionals in schools. Mental Health Support Teams like the With Me In Mind team based in Doncaster and Rotherham are part of this effort.
The Government commits to rolling out Young Futures hubs across communities to deliver support for young people facing mental health issues. The Department for Education is reviewing relationship, sex, and health education statutory guidance with a focus on children’s wellbeing. They will carefully consider consultation responses before setting out next steps and engaging wider experts, including discussions on suicide prevention.
Mental health remains a priority in the NHS, backed by the mental health investment standard to ensure funding is ringfenced for commitments. The Government must publish an annual statement setting out expectations for NHS mental health spending before the start of the next financial year. Suicide prevention is highlighted as everyone’s responsibility, and the Minister encourages men to contribute their views on building a better NHS through the Change NHS portal.
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