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Male Suicide in Rotherham 2025-03-24

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 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 local MP, Jake Richards addresses frequent calls about suicides and their impact on communities, highlighting alarming statistics such as male suicides accounting for three out of four in England and Wales. He emphasises the broader societal issues contributing to this problem: worsening mental health provisions for men, splintering support networks, and societal pressures that discourage men from seeking help. Richards also mentions specific policy concerns like gambling addiction and the role of technology in exacerbating mental health issues among young men.

Government Response

NHSEducationTaxation
Government Response
To be filled by the minister I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley for securing this debate on male suicide. Mental ill health is rising, with suicide being the biggest killer for men under 50. The Government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head-on. We are working closely with local authorities and voluntary sectors to see progress through. For example, we are recruiting 8,500 new mental health workers trained to support people at risk of suicide. Additionally, the cross-sector suicide prevention strategy for England identifies middle-aged men as a priority group for targeted support. The Government is providing £26 million in capital investment to open new mental health crisis centres. We take online safety seriously and are working closely with our colleagues at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to address harmful content shared on pro-suicide websites and forums. We are addressing the concerns regarding technology's impact on young people. We have provided significant support, including £500 million in debt relief to address budget cuts facing local authorities. Robust new protections under the Online Safety Act 2023 will be enforced by summer to protect children from harmful content and ensure an age-appropriate online experience. In addition to online safety measures, we are committed to early intervention for mental health issues. Every school is being provided with access to a mental health professional through initiatives like the With Me In Mind team in Doncaster and Rotherham. We are also rolling out Open Access Young Futures hubs across communities to deliver support for young people facing mental health challenges. The Department for Education is reviewing relationship, sex, and health education statutory guidance with a focus on children's wellbeing, considering consultation responses before setting next steps and engaging wider experts. The NHS remains committed to prioritising mental health through the mental health investment standard, ensuring funding is ringfenced for delivery of our commitments. The Secretary of State will publish an annual statement setting out expectations for NHS mental health spending in due course. We are also encouraging men to contribute their views on how to build a more effective NHS through our 10-year health plan.
Assessment & feedback
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